By BRIAN LEAHY
of The Gazette
The 31st annual American Birkebeiner, held Saturday, Feb. 21, was dedicated to the late Greg Marr.
Marr, the editor and founder of "Silent Sports" magazine, died Dec. 19, 2003, at the age of 52 while cross country skiing in Iola. He was a long-time Birkebeiner supporter and skier.
He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and continued to play softball in Stevens Point while living in Waupaca.
Martha Fullmer, Marr's wife, was the honorary starter for the event. Fullmer is the owner of Martha's Yarn Emporium in Stevens Point.
Fullmer read a few words before the cannon sounded and the first wave, comprised of elite skiers, left the starting gate.
"When they raised the gate, which was really a bunch of banners, they were skiing into the wind," Fullmer said. "It was very cold at the start. It was very exciting and very colorful."
More than 6,000 skiers took part in the 51-kilometer race between Telemark Resort, near Cable, and Hayward. The 23-kilometer Kortelopet ran on the same course, before branching off and winding its way back to Telemark.
One of the Birkebeiner skiers was Fullmer's brother, Greg Groeschel. Groeschel carried Marr's bib in the Birkie and finished the race in 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Birkebeiner officials also established a new award, the Greg Marr Middle of the Pack Award, in Marr's honor. The winner of that award should be determined by the end of next week, officials said.
"I think Greg would be very surprised to see how far-reaching his influence was," Fullmer said.