On February 25th, the 33rd annual Subaru American Birkebeiner cross country ski race took place along the northern section of the Namekagon River District within the park. The race covered 51 kilometers between Telemark/Cable and Hayward, Wisconsin, with three kilometers of the race within the park. The race is the largest cross country ski race in North America, with about 6,800 skiers representing 19 foreign countries and 45 states. Protection rangers from the Namekagon District and Marshland Subdistrict provided law enforcement and EMS support to Hayward City Police Department at Lake Hayward, which is within NPS jurisdiction. The rangers worked checkpoints monitoring the event. Several minor medical emergencies, such as hypothermia, twisted ankles, cramps and fatigue, occurred throughout the race. Personnel from several state and local agencies and departments provided law enforcement and EMS along with rangers, including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bayfield and Sawyer Counties Sheriff Departments, Sawyer County EMS, Hayward Police Department and Hayward Fire Department. In a photo finish, Italian Marco Cattaneo beat teammate Roberto DeZolt by half an inch to capture the champion's title.
