On Saturday, April 1, 2023, the Ski Classics weekend finale starts with Reistadløpet, the season’s thirteenth event and one of the most demanding courses in the Pro Tour circuit. 

The 40-kilometer-long Reistadløpet is the northernmost race in Ski Classics. The race starts in Setermoen, in the municipality of Bardu, Norway, and goes through arctic landscapes and mountain tops before reaching the finish line in Bardufoss in the municipality of Målselv.

So far, no one has won the race by only double poling, as most skiers use diagonal striding. The course has challenging climbs up to the mountains, but the scenery is breathtaking.

A Long Military History

Reistadløpet has a long history going all the way back to 1958. The event commemorates a local ski legend Colonel Ole Reistad, a Norwegian champion in the pentathlon in 1922 and the ski patrol leader that won Olympic gold in St. Moritz in 1928.

Setermoen has one of the oldest army camps in Norway, and military education was established there in 1898 because of its strategic location in the middle of the mountains. The Norwegian Armed Forces have shaped the community through its presence in many ways, and there are hundreds of soldiers and officers stationed there, making it the largest garrison in Norway.

Highly Accessible And Yet So Far Away

Bardufoss has a civilian and military airport located about 82km north of the town of Narvik and about 70km south of Tromsø, the largest city in Northern Norway. Both Setermoen and Bardufoss are very small, but they have their appeal and peculiarities, and the majestic nature around these places certainly takes your breath away. 

If you have extra time for a visit, a day in Tromsø is highly recommended. The city center contains the highest number of old wooden houses in Northern Norway, and the oldest one dates back to 1789. You can enjoy the city’s vast offering of places to eat and comfortable cafés with tasty pastries. In Tromsø, you can relax and let time stand still.

REISTADLØPET – Ski Classics Pro Tour – Event 13

• Date: April 1, 2023
• Distance: 40km Classic Technique
• Place: Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway
• Start Time: Women 10:00 CET / Men 10:30 CET 
• Number of SC Sprints: 1
  • Sprint: Storlømyra
• Number of SC Climbs: 1
  • Climb: Orta 

More information about Ski Classics you can find at skiclassics.com.

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