Post by Ben Brewer

Ernie St. Germaine, 73, is now the last living member of a uniquely dedicated group. St. Germaine, an Ojibwe Indian from the Lac du Flambeau Tribe of Northern Wisconsin, is the last surviving "founders" of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation cross-country ski race in 1973. From the humble beginnings of 35 skiers, the Birkebeiner has joined with the Worldloppet Ski Federation and typically attracts over 8,000 citizen skiers and around 430 elite participants from around the world. St. Germaine remains the only skier to have successfully completed the 50 Kilometer race every year since its founding and, despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, he was determined to complete his 47th "Birkie" in 2021 – if albeit on a separate day, physically-distanced from other skiers and with a little help from his daughter as a support crew along the way. #photojournalism #freelancephotographer #personalproject #visualstorytelling #wisconsin #sports #wintersports #birkebeiner #COVID19