When his former colleague and friend Frank Hagen was able to tell one day that he had plans to start competitions in Lofoten, Christian was very keen on the idea. Now the competitions are ready and Frank works full-time together with Maria T Karlsen to make the events about more than distance and time.
The result of a lot of good work has become three great events with soul, which are spread over three seasons. Lofoten Skimo (Top tours) in week 11, Ultratrail (cross-country running) in week 22 and Triathlon (Swim-Cycle-Running) in week 33.
All the events have different classes and lengths. The great thing about this is that eleven weeks apart means you get variety in training and goal setting.
During all the races, the organizer provides food and drink along the way. Own support is not allowed, which is great in terms of equality for everyone and that you save the environment and the experience of a lot of driving.
Being part of the support team has been sought after from day one since you are well taken care of, and you get a close connection between participant and support, and that you experience nature as well as a supporter. The Harstad boy has participated in The Arctic Triple safety team, in test runs and in official competition, and concludes that all three were very positive experiences.
The planning of the Ultratrail and Triathlon was carried out quite quickly, and in 2016 had their first official competitions with success. The Arctic Triple has had many ideas, where the first ideas were to swim into the Trollfjord. And then go on skis and crampons up the mountains past Trollsadelen and Geitgallien and further down to Laupstad where the participants were to run into Svolvær along the E-10.
Route planning was carried out, but the route was vulnerable to the risk of avalanches, so an alternative route was created to gain experience with the various disciplines. We swam into the Morfjorden (approx. 1000 m), then skied and snowshoeed over the Morfjordskaret, visited Pilan and Sautind (approx. 1000 metres), then ran to Svolvær, (approx. 22 km).
This was a fantastic experience where you got to experience several elements and got a lovely view in safe surroundings. It was nevertheless concluded that this would require too much equipment and organisation, so that Lofoten Skimo is from 2017 a purely mountain skiing race with steep mountains.
This is called Randonee by some and Skimonteering (Skimo) by others. A route has been selected and reconnoitered for both the most eager who need more than 4,000 meters of altitude to get tired, and approx. 1,100 meters of altitude for those who want to have a great day in the mountains where the threshold to participate is small. While the elite starts at 0700 from Fiskebøl and the tour class starts at 1100 from Vestpollen, both finish in Svolvær. This will of course only be carried out if the weather and avalanche conditions indicate that it is safe. An alternative route will be chosen if necessary.
This is currently an individual competition for women and men. In the long term, there may be team classes. There may also be an alpine class in the future, where more challenging terrain will be added with Via Ferrata and abseils. High-level international athletes have announced their arrival. Equipment lists have been made and show whether the participant will go with telemark skis, Randonee equipment or snowboards. It is up to the participants which equipment they want to use, as long as they are within the cut-off times that are set, so that everyone gets home before the ice fishing is over.
What do you achieve?
The route goes through the most used summit hiking mountains in Lofoten. The mountains for the Elite class are Rismålflågan, Pilan, Sautindan, Kvittinden, Kistbergtinden, Torskmannen, Breitinden and shared with the tour class: Rundfjellet, the foothills of Jomfrutindan and Tuva. All this is carried out in one day. You get food and drink along the way, weather and avalanche assessments are made and the route is adjusted if necessary.
There is also a safety device should something happen to the participant along the way. At these competitions you will feel a warm welcome, a fantastic area surrounded by a beautiful archipelago with clear and clean water, steep and tempting mountains, as well as locals who will cheer you on and help you finish.
What are you waiting for? As a participant or volunteer, join the biggest adventure of the winter on 18 March 2017.
More information at: www.thearctictriple.no
Photo: Vegar Kaspersen, Frank Hagen and Christian Dramsdahl
