When Kevin Brekken Ramsfjell started the record attempt of crossing Norway on rollerskis, the goal was to go from Nordkapp to Lindesnes in 13 days. On Tuesday morning, he crossed the finish line at Lindesnes in under 10 days and 10 hours. The last stretch from Lygna to Lindenes was 483 kilometers long.

Langrenn.com talked with the record holder after the finish at Lindesnes. 

“It was hard at the end,” admits Ramsfjell and continues: 

“I wasn’t that tired, but it was tough when there were 50 kilometers left. I had a lot of headwinds and felt like I was never going to make it. I was close but still not quite there, and time passed so slowly.” 

Most days, you rollerskied around 250 kilometers. What was it like to rollerski 483 kilometers in one go and to do it on the last stage?  

“It went well. I was in perfect shape, with no blisters or pain. I was just sleepy. Especially at night when it was dark and cold,” says Ramsfjell to Langrenn.com. 

The 22-year-old explains that he used the cold to cope with the darkest time of the day and reduce the risk of injuring himself when he was tired. 

“I used the cold to stay awake. I stopped wearing more clothes when I was cold at night because I stayed more awake. And I knew it would be bright again after just a few hours. When I got some light, my body woke up, and everything was as usual, even though I hadn’t slept at all,” says Ramsfjell. 

Looking back on the entire attempt, what was the highlight?  

“I am proud I could go this far on the last stage. I got used to rollerski long every day, but the fact that I could do a 24-hour at the end was the coolest thing. I could have done as I used to: split in two and still manage 11 days. But I know I’d regret it if I didn’t try to take it in one day.”  

What is the key to breaking the current record to such an extent, including your original goal of 13 days? 

“First of all, we had a motorhome as the following car, and I was well trained on rollerskiing from before. But I had made an offensive plan and put everything in place so I could do it as quickly as possible.” 

Is there anything you would change if you were to do it all over again? 

“I probably wouldn’t plan to go in the middle of the busiest summer holiday season. There was a lot of traffic, and several times we had to finish the stage earlier than we wanted because there were so many cars on the road.” 

To avoid the worst traffic, Ramsfjell had planned to do as many kilometers as possible at night. In the far north, there were no problems because it still doesn’t get dark at night. But as he got south, it gradually got darker and more challenging.

Is it something you would do again?  

“No. Next time I will do something long, I’ll try running. But then I must train more.” 

What will be your next project?  

“Now I’m going to get an ice cream.” 

This is what long-distance veteran Anders Aukland says about Ramsfjell’s performance.

Anders Aukland has followed Ramsfjell through the record attempt. The 49-year-old is impressed by what the 22-year-old has achieved. 

“What he has accomplished is impressive and very inspiring. That he was able to rollerski such long stages day after day, and that he had something left to rollerski at the end, is incredibly fun to see,” says Aukland to Langrenn.com, and continues: 

“It requires an enormous mental strength to carry out such a project. And often, injuries can become a problem when you have to rollerski so far and for so long. But the fact that he reached the finish line without injury and managed this so well shows that he has great mental and physical strength.” 

Does Kevin Ramsfjell get an offer to become part of Team Ragde Charge?  

“No. I have a good team that works well together, and our goal is to go fast in Marcialonga and Vasaloppet. It is something different. But I am impressed, and I like people who do such things. What he has done is incredibly strong, both mentally and physically. Just rollerskiing across Norway is powerful, and it’s fun that he has coped so well,” says Anders Aukland. 

This is the record attempt

To fulfill the goal of reaching the finish line in 13 days, the 22-year-old planned to rollerski daily stages of 200km without rest days. The plan was to rollerski about 10 hours per day, breaks not included. Then he must have an average speed of 20 km/h to keep track. 

Thirteen days and 200 km per day was an ambitious and tight schedule; therefore, Ramsfjell has chosen a route that follows the fastest, straightest roads from north to south. 

“I really only took the distance 2600 kilometers and divided it by 13 to get a round number to relate to. 200km is a round number, and 10 hours a day is a round number,” says Ramsfjell to Langrenn.com. 

The route is almost identical to the one that ultra-running legend Simen Holvik followed when he set a world record for running the stretch last summer. Holvik spent 26 days. 

FACTS: Rollerskiing Across Norway 2022

• Who: Kevin Brekken Ramsfjell (22)
• What: Set a new record for crossing Norway on rollerskis
• When: July 16-28, 2022
• Route: Nordkapp to Lindesnes 
• Distance: 2600 kilometers 
• Altitude gain: 30,000+ 
• Duration: 13 days, reduced to 11 days halfway through the attempt, finished after 10 days and 10 hours 
• Current record for the stretch: 21 days, set in 2021 (Ståle Samuelsen, 63 years)
• How: 13 stages of 200km, daily sessions of 10 hours, average speed 20km/h