8 1 ▁as ▁market ing ▁director ▁for ▁a ▁Norwegian ▁cross - country ▁ski ▁im porter , ▁Nor T ur , ▁Inc . ▁in ▁Min ne apolis . ▁ ▁His ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁stad ium ▁sports ▁announ cer ▁began ▁at ▁international ▁cross - country ▁ski ▁races ▁at ▁Te lem ark ▁Res ort ▁in ▁northern ▁Wisconsin ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 . ▁He ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁become ▁syn onymous ▁as ▁the ▁voice ▁of ▁Nord ic ▁ski ing ▁at ▁U . S . ▁World ▁Cup ▁events ▁and ▁the ▁international ▁American ▁Bir ke be iner ▁cross - country ▁ski ▁race ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 5 . ▁ ▁Gra ves ▁also ▁gained ▁not or iety ▁as ▁the ▁stad ium ▁announ cer ▁for ▁the ▁L umber jack ▁World ▁Championships ▁in ▁Hay ward , ▁Wisconsin , ▁which ▁was ▁tele vised ▁by ▁ABC ' s ▁W ide ▁World ▁of ▁Sports . ▁ ▁Television ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁expert ▁comment ator ▁with ▁ABC ' s ▁Bill ▁F lem ing ▁for ▁cross - country ▁ski ing ▁and ▁bi ath lon ▁at ▁the ▁Winter ▁Olympic ▁Games ▁in ▁Lake ▁P lac id . ▁He ▁began ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁ESP N ' s ▁early ▁ski ing ▁comment ators ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁covering ▁international ▁ski ▁events ▁with ▁Jim ▁Sim pson . ▁He ▁worked ▁as ▁an ▁expert ▁comment ator ▁for ▁ESP N ' s ▁Sports Center ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁and ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁Olympic ▁Winter ▁Games