Thompson skis 40th Birkie and raises funds for good causes

Paul Thompson recently completed his 40th American Birkebeiner. Because of COVID-19, the Birkie could be skied on whatever course the entrants chose to ski. Paul, shown on the left, skied with his wife Mindy Ahler and friend Mark Bloomquist on trails around Golden Eagle and Bearskin lodge. Photo submitted by Kristen Rebello

Paul Thompson (age 72) skied his 40th Birkie (American Birkebeiner Ski Marathon) on February 27. After years of trekking to Hayward, Wisconsin, this year (due to COVID-19), the Birkie offered a virtual option. So, Paul, his wife Mindy Ahler and friend Mark Bloomquist went to Golden Eagle Lodge on the Gunflint Trail to ski their 44 km.

Thompson left the Twin Cities Thursday morning for Grand Marais, and he and his team of supporters skied their virtual Birkie on Saturday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on his 1960s Norwegian Wooden skis.

The trio completed 44.3 kilometers in eight hours and 44 minutes at around 5 p.m. Their average speed was five kilometers per hour.

Paul reported that the trails around Golden Eagle and Bearskin Lodges were good. Reflecting on the event, Thompson commented: “Accompanied by my partner, Mindy, and dear friend, Mark, I completed my 40th Birkie on February 27. The sun was shining and the snow was glistening. And even though we hadn’t quite reached our $40,000 goal, I skied most of the course on my wooden skis. Let me tell you, the beer and soak in the tub felt so good that night!”

“I’ve been raising funds for hunger and poverty elimination and climate action in all of my Birkies since 1979. Now we are beginning to appeal to both conservatives and liberals, as we realize we have more in common than our world views and precious opinions.”

This year, in honor of his 40th anniversary, his fundraising goal was particularly ambitious: “We’ve raised $34,000 toward our $40,000 goal. Since we have finished our race but not reached our goal, we will continue fundraising for another couple of weeks and then officially close the campaign.”

If Thompson reaches his goal of $40,000, each of the following groups will receive $10,000. Three groups are devoted to climate action (Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Cool Planet Skiers and Returned Peace Corps volunteers for Environmental Action), and another nonprofit, Braver Angels, is working to depolarize Red and Blue America.