After a scaled-down American Birkebeiner Cross Country Ski Race in 2021 due to the pandemic, the Cable-Hayward area’s largest week-long event returns to full strength this year. Race director Ben Popp joins “Simply Superior” this week and talks with host Robin Washington about the race and other activities that regularly attract 13,000 skiers from around the world. He also tells its history, including the origin of its name, going back to the rescue of a Norwegian prince in 1206.
Plus, Americana singer-songwriter Danny Frank has been a frequent guest on the show, as has Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Erin Aldridge. So, what do you get when you put them together? It’s the newest incarnation of Frank’s band Smoky Gold, with the violin virtuoso featured as fiddler phenom. The pair join Washington in advance of concerts, including Aldridge’s performance Saturday with the DSSO.
Episode Credits
- Robin Washington Host
- Robin Washington Producer
- Ezra Wall Producer
- Erin Aldridge Guest
- Ben Popp Guest
- Danny Frank Guest
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