Cross-Country Skiing
The stage is again set for world’s longest ski race
A demanding 220 km through Arctic wilderness awaits the nearly 400 participants strong starting field from 18 nations, all looking for the ultimate challenge on a pair of cross country-skis.
On Saturday, March 24, the 3rd edition of Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet in modern time starts at 06:00 in the morning close to Jokkmokk, Sweden. Current titleholder Andreas Nygaard from Norway is coming in hot after back-to-back victories in equally legendary Vasaloppet and Birkebeinerrennet.
Andreas Nygaard after winning Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet 2017
© Magnus Östh
It´s absurd to ski for that long, the craziest race I’ve ever done.
A smiling Nygaard said in 2017 after winning in almost 12 hours. Moments before he had sprinted down his team colleague Øyvind Moen Fjeld by just two seconds. Best female was Swedish Nina Lintzén who took an overwhelming victory in just over 13 hours. All three are returning for another round in 2018.
“We’re incredibly happy and proud that defending champion Andreas Nygaard again choses to ski Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet. It shows what our race means to him”, says race director Daniel Tynell and continues: “With Fjeld and also Christoffer Lindvall (FIN) - last year’s impressing 3rd place - returning, he’ll however face tough competition. On top, we’re looking forward to welcome Czech long distance icon Stanilav Řezáč on the starting line for the first time. It’s going to be a thrilling battle!”
Another interesting premier is the start of Emilia Lindstedt (SWE) on the women’s side. She has been stacking up victories this season, won Engelbrektsloppet and come third in TjejVasan. Will she be able to test experienced Nina Lintzén who’ll do her 3rd race?
Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet
© Magnus Osth
A year for the record books
Besides international elite, the starting list includes a high number of exceptional amateur skiers. Once the race has started, they have 30 hours to cover the extreme distance from Purkijaur to the turning point in ÅrreNjarka and back to Jokkmokk. The race goes in classic technique and follows a historical track that has its roots in a competition held for the first time in 1884 by polar explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld.
Following historical tracks leading back to 1884
© Adam Klingeteg
After a long winter with plenty of snow more skiers than ever before have chosen to accept this physical and mental challenge. The number of registrations exceeds previous years with a good margin as the race has gone from 240 starters in 2017 to almost 400 participants on upcoming Saturday.
A lot of registrations have come in during the last weeks and it looks like we´ll set a new participation record. Fantastic winter landscapes and conditions are waiting for the racers. We haven´t had this much snow since the 90s
Soon a new King of the North will be crowed here in Jokkmokk.
© Wolfgang Mehl
300 liters of coffee, 800 liters of Red Bull, 1200 liters of blueberry soup, 2800 cheese sandwiches, 3800 buns and 5000 bananas will amongst other be ready at the 19 energy stations along the way.
Refeuling and giving 'em skis some extra mid-race love.
© Richard Ström
Find the complete starting list here.
How to follow the race
If you want to follow the race live from your phone or computer you can do so on our website which features a specially developed live platform that allows you to track single participants on a map. At 20 checkpoints there will be timekeeping with live updates and time forecasts on www.redbullnordenskioldsloppet.se
Throughout the race near live updates will be posted right here and on our facebook page.
No need to follow the race IRL while freezing, follow it from your couch.
© Richard Ström
At a few selected spots around the course there will be live web cameras in order for you to be able to spot the leading pack or your buddy. About 1 minute after they’ve passed the timekeeping they will pass the camera. You can pick yourself which camera you want to see or switch between them. Like all the near live updates the live web cameras will be found on www.redbullnordenskioldsloppet.se as soon as the race starts.
During the final stretch of the race, a camera will follow both the leading men’s and women’s pack for the last 30 minutes into the finish so you can see the race decision LIVE!
Follow the last intense 30 minutes of the race LIVE.
© Adam Klingeteg
More about Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet
Before its revival as an ultra race earlier in 2016, the competition had laid dormant ever since the scientist and polar explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld organized it for the first and only time in 1884. Nordenskiöld created the challenge to prove his expedition members’ ability to cover long distances in short time after being accused of exaggerating their accomplishments during a Greenland expedition. Pava-Lasse Nilsson Tuorda was crowned winner, covering the distance in unprepared terrain in 21 hours and 22 minutes – just seconds ahead of main competitor Per-Olof Länta.
Back to the roots
© .
Now being considered the world’s longest and toughest challenge on skis, the cross-country community´s interest for the Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet was internationally high right upon the comeback announcement of the race. Besides a majority of Scandinavian participants, there were registrations from all alp countries as well as out of many eastern European countries, the Americas and UK.
Local hero again going for hometown glory
We’ve had a short chat with local skier Jan Erik “Janne” Länta representing Jokkmokks SK – the organizing club behind the race and Sweden’s oldest ski club, turning 125 years in 2018. Ranked 44 in 2017, he’s preparing for his third participation and wants to defend his title as best skier from the host town.
Janne aiming to defend my title as best “Jokkmokkare”
© Marcus Olsson
Hello there, Janne, are you feeling strong for the upcoming challenge?
Yes, I think so. I haven’t trained exactly as much as last year and competed less but still feel that my condition is as good. I did not have any breaks in my preparation. That surely helped.
You managed to advance from rank 146 in 2016 to rank 44 in 2017 – how did that come?
Well, in the first year my major goal was to finish the race so I chose a rather easy pace. Last year, I saw the race more like a competition and hence, went for more speed.
OK, we understand. So which Janne are we going to see in 2018?
I´m definitely aiming to defend my title as best “Jokkmokkare” so it will be competition speed again.
Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet is a long race. A very long race.
© Adam Klingeteg
You’ve been training in the area all winter, what conditions can your fellow competitors expect?
There’s plenty of snow up here so it will be good winter conditions. I hope the poles will grip just fine but I’m surely going to pick larger baskets to be on the safe side.
Is there something you worry about or is there nothing left to scare you?
No, I’m not really worried about anything except for maybe running totally out of energy so I can’t go on in the speed I want. Then again, I sometimes think that it would be annoying if I felt good but still had to quit because of some pain that occurs in the elbows or a shoulder. But you really can’t control that anyway.
One last thing: What’s your best tip for skiers that will do their first race?
It’s important to stay energized all the way. In order to do so, one needs to constantly refill from the start. The race itself will be mentally tough but it’s a lot of up and down for everybody. I almost recommend longing for the downs because after every dip, things will go easier again. Does that make sense?
Nordenskioldsloppet
© Adam Klingeteg