Three of the worlds best long distance skiers will compete in Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet, the world’s longest and toughest cross country ski race.
Jon Kristian Dahl and Anders Aukland, Norway and Jörgen Brink, Sweden will compete in the 220 kilometer long race on April 15th, 2017.
With it’s start and finish in Jokkmokk, situated north of the polar circle in northern Sweden the race track goes straight through the lappish fjelds.
The traditional ski race goes back to 1884 when the first race was held. It’s rebirth took place during spring 2016, now all is set for the second edition.
– I really want to ski the race once more. It’s incredibly long, a real challenge, says John Kristian Dahl who won the race ahead of Anders Aukland in 2016.
– The race was an experience, partly because the race, partly because the track was so grand and beautiful. On top the weather eas great, says Jörgen Brink who finished 4th.
– Last years race was among the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. It formed a whole; the elites struggles, all the amateurs who made it to the finish, the service teams, the crowd and all the volonters who worked hard, says three times Vasaloppet winner Daniel Tynell, sports manager Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet.
Best non nordic contender in last springs race was Thomas Freimuth, Germany, who finished 8th. He says:
– The day at the polar cirkle in Jokkmokk gave me the greatest adventure on skis. When you succeed in completing the race it gives you an indescribable feeling of happiness. I can almost not wait to be back on the starting line.
– It was a unique experience and so fun that the organisation worked so well.
Before the last race, there were no references on what it would be like to ski such a long race. None had undertaken the challenge previously.
– The longest I’ve ever skied before was seven hours on roller skis. But now I added another 1,5 hours. It was a challenge, but perhaps mainly a mental challenge to ski for so long, says John Kristian Dahl.
– A lack of snow forced the organisers to adjust the track, this time it would be nice to able to ski the original track, continues John Kristian Dahl.
Last spring the lappish fjelds saw a lack of snow. This made the track 200 kilometers long. During summer and autumn the organisers have worked hard on the track and counts on being able to run the full track of 220km’s next year.
The women’s starting field saw 25 starting last spring, and victorious was Lina Korsgren.
Now we know the competition works well for both elite and amateurs. Out of the 330 men and women from 17 countries that started only a handful had to cancel. The winning time landed at 8,5 hours and the last skier competed for 23 hours straight.
– The interest for the race is great and we count on being able to fill the 500 starting spots. But still there are positions open, says Wolfgang Mehl, initiator for the record long race.
– The contestants and the crowd will have a spectacular experience both in the ski tracks and Jokkmokks mountainous and wintery landscape.
