The second day of the Blink Festival in Norway saw Astrid Øyre Slind and Andrew Musgrave, both from Team Aker Dæhlie, winning the 50-kilometer-long Blink Classics on Thursday evening. 

Blink Festival day two was marked by a long-distance roller ski race in classic technique, with start and finish in Ålgård, Norway. This year, Blink Classics has attracted big names from several countries, and today, Ski Classics Pro Team athletes met World Cup skiers in one of the most robust starting fields of all time.

BLINK CLASSICS – WOMEN

In the women’s competition, Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, won the race with a total time of 2:08:30.4, Lotta Udnes Weng, Norwegian National Team, finished in second place, 1:24.1 behind the winner, and Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, completed the podium in third place, 1:24.5 back.

Top 3 Blink Classics, Women

1. Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, 2:08:30.4
2. Lotta Udnes Weng, Norwegian National Team, +1:24.1
3. Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, +1:24.5

Complete results can be found HERE. 

BLINK CLASSICS – MEN

In the men’s race, Andrew Musgrave, Team Aker Dæhlie, won the race with a total time of 2:01:03.5. Thomas Joly, Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso, finished in second place, 25.2 seconds behind the winner. Petter Northug, Team Janteloppet, completed the podium in third place, 25.5 seconds back. 

Top 3 Blink Classics, Men

1. Andrew Musgrave, Team Aker Dæhlie, 2:01:03.5
2. Thomas Joly, Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso, +25.2
3. Petter Northug, Team Janteloppet, +25.5

Complete results can be found HERE. 

Also Read:
Ebba Andersson winner at the Lysebotn Opp freestyle race 2023
Hegstad Krüger winner of the Lysebotn Opp freestyle race 2023

Read More: Musgrave and Øyre Slind won the Lysebotn Opp double poling race 2023

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.