The Blink Festival starts tomorrow with the uphill race Lysebotn Opp, and many of the top Ski Classics Pro Team athletes and traditional cross-country skiers will be on the start line for the double poling and freestyle races.

The Blink Festival offers four intense competition days from August 2 to 5, with the first competition day, Lysebotn Opp, considered one of the most challenging.

Lysebotn Opp is a 7.5 kilometers long uphill race where the athletes make it to the top via 27 hairpin turns at an average gradient of 10%. The event is contested in two techniques: freestyle and double poling.

A strong presence of Pro Teams is confirmed for this year’s edition. The full list can be found below, but the start list includes Ski Classics Season XIV Champion winners Emil Persson and Ida Dahl. Also, Max Novak, Alvar Myhlback, Andreas Nygaard, Kasper Stadaas, Petter Northug, Astrid Øyre Slind, Magni Smedås, Emilie Fleten, Jenny Larsson and Karolina Hedenström, among others. 

Lysebotn Opp Start Lists – Senior Athletes

• Lysebotn Opp Start List – Double Poling Women
• Lysebotn Opp Start List – Double Poling Men
• Lysebotn Opp Start List – Freestyle Women
• Lysebotn Opp Start List – Freestyle Men

On Thursday, August 3, it’s time for Blink Classics, a 50 kilometers roller ski race in classic technique, with Max Novak and Linn Sömskar as reigning champions.

Read More: Max Novak and Linn Sömskar winners of Blink Classics 2022 

On Friday, a 10/15 kilometers mass start race awaits the cross-country skiers, and on Saturday, a sprint race.

Registered Ski Classics Pro Teams

• Team Janteloppet (former Team Northug Crucible)
• Team Aker Dæhlie
• Lager 157 Ski Team
• Team Ramudden
• Team Eksjöhus
• Team Ragde Charge
• Team Engcon
• Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso
• Team Kaffebryggeriet
• Team Robinson Trentino
• Team Nordic Experience
• Team Vercors Isére
• Danish Skimarathon Team
• Team Mäenpää
• Bruse Sauerland Ski Team 
• Team NTNUI Sweco
• Team Front Rustad IL
• Team Synnfjell

Also Read: Blink 2023, unveiling the complete calendar

FACTS: BLINK 2023

• Who:  Cross-country skiers and biathletes at national and international levels, as well as junior classes and age-specific classes for younger athletes
• What:  Summer ski festival cross-country skiing, biathlon, and long-distance skiing, held for the first time in 2006
• Where:  Sandnes, Lysefjorden and Gjesdal, Norway
• When:  August 2 to 5, 2023 
• Organizers:  Norwegian Ski Association, Norwegian Biathlon Association, Sandnes municipality, and Axelar
• Website: www.blinkfestivalen.no

Program Blink 2023 

August 2, Wednesday:  BLINK Lysebotn Up, 7.5km uphill race, start in Lysefjorden

• 11:30: 1km and 2km girls and boys
• 12:15: 7.5km skating women senior, women junior
• 14:00: 7.5km double poling women and men senior
• 15:30: 7.5km skating men senior, men junior

August 3, Thursday:  BLINK Classics at Ålgård

• 18:45: Start BLINK Classics
• 20:45: Estimated finish BLINK Classics

August 4, Friday: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum 

• 7:30 – 14:20: Cross-country skiing and biathlon: competitions for age groups and juniors 
• 12:00-21:00: OBOS Kid Camp
• 14:30-15:15: Biathlon: Shooting elite
• 15:30-15:50: Cross-country skiing: Prologue women and men
• 15:55-16:50: Biathlon: Shooting duel women and men
• 17:10-18:25: Biathlon: Super sprint qualification elite women and men
• 18:25-18:55: Cross-country skiing: 10km mass start women
• 18:55-19:45: Biathlon: Super sprint final women and men
• 19:45-20: 25: Cross-country skiing: 15km mass start men
• 20:45: Prize-giving ceremony

August 5, Saturday: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum 

• 7:40-14:20: Cross-country skiing and biathlon: competitions for age groups and juniors
• 12:00-21:00: OBOS Kid Camp
• 14:30-15:15: Biathlon: Shooting elite
• 15:20-15:40: Cross-country skiing: Prologue women and men
• 15:45-17:37: Biathlon: Quarter-finals start women and men
• 17:44-19:20: Cross-country skiing: Sprint quarter-finals and semifinals women and men
• 19:22-20:08: Biathlon: Semifinals mass start women and men
• 20:10-20:23: Cross-country skiing: Finals sprint women and men
• 20:25-21:05: Biathlon: finals mass start women and men
• 21:25: Prize-giving ceremony 

All competitions are broadcast on NRK.