The first day of the Blink Festival in Norway saw Andrew Musgrave, Team Aker Dæhlie, and Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, winning the challenging double poling uphill race. 

Blink Festival day one is marked by a short but challenging uphill roller ski race, Lysebotn Opp. The participating skiers could start the 7.5km climb in skating or double poling technique in two different events.

The double poling competition naturally had many Ski Classics Pro Team athletes. In the men’s race, Andrew Musgrave, Team Aker Dæhlie, was the strongest skier, finishing the race in 31:18 and beating Eirik Sverdrup Augdal, Team Eksjöhus, who finished in 2^nd place, and Iivo Niskanen, Finland, completing the podium in third place

In the women’s race, Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, was stronger and won the race in a total time of 36:43. Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, finished in second place, with a time of 37:52, and Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, completed the podium in third place, with a total time of 38:14.

Top 3 Lysebotn Opp Double Poling, Men

1. Andrew Musgrave, Team Aker Dæhlie, 31:18
2. Eirik Sverdrup Augdal, Team Eksjöhus, 31:40
3. Iivo Niskanen, Finland, 31:46

Top 3 Lysebotn Opp Double Poling, Women

1. Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, 36:43
2. Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, 37:52
3. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, 38:14

Complete results can be found HERE. 

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.