Return of the Nimrod

The Birkebeiner Ski race is familiar to people in Scandinavia, in northern Wisconsin, and among the cross country ski community in general.  It commemorates a turbulent time in medieval Norway when a royal baby named Haakon needed to be spirited away from some characters called Baglers, who wanted to bump him off as part of a dynastic war.  Brave warriors called Birkebeiners got on their skis and made good an escape, getting Haakon to safety.

The American Birkebeiner race up in Hayward Wisconsin celebrates this legend, with thousands of skiers participating in the most prestigious cross country ski race in North America.  There are always re-enactors to carry Haakon off to safety.

One of my kids who lives in the area has for years participated in a more light hearted aspect of "The Birkie".  One that has just a smidge of controversy here and there but no dynastic strife.  Well, maybe just a smidge of that too.  

The Giant Ski Race, where teams of six stalwarts on a single pair of giant skis, sprint down the main street of Hayward to the bemusement of spectators.  Last year he made an elaborate "mockumentary" of the event.  It was a full length feature film with a local movie theater doing the World Premier and all manner of nonsense.  In case you missed it:

After winning the event five times the Nimrods decided to hang it up.  So ends a mighty sports dynasty.  

Or does it?

Recently a trailer has dropped suggesting a Nimrod revival, something that involves the Legend of Haakon and the whole re-enactor thing.  Worth a couple minutes of your time if you don't have the leisure and a beverage in hand for the full length feature from a year ago.

Obviously much in the same tongue in cheek genre, but being a peripheral member of the Nimrod entourage I see some interesting things hinted at.  It appears that the role of Haakon is being played by one of my grand daughter's dolls.  An old nemesis of mine....Doll Baby.

Given Doll Baby's profound disdain for authority - at least that of grandpas - I suppose it was inevitable that Hollywood would be appealing.  I was wondering what DB had been up to.  Last communique I had was being ordered to get a Covid test around Christmas....

Will the Nimrods rise to the occasion saving both "Baby Haakon" and the Birkie in general (dangerously low snow amounts at press time).  Probably.  Will fame, fortune and a life on the silver screen turn Doll Baby into an insufferable brat?  Too late for that.  Far too late.