There’s enormous prestige attached to this winter’s brother duel between Petter Northug and Even Northug.

Now, the stage is set for the dream duel of all time: Petter Northug against Even Northug on the same starting line in the same ski race.

It has been known for a while that Petter Northug will be at the start of this year’s Kobberløppet. Now, through collaboration partner Geir Wenberg, he has also got his younger brother Even, who became the Norwegian Champion in the sprint at Beitostølen this weekend, to the starting line in Sulis, Norway.

It’s far from the first time the two brothers have competed against each other. But it’s the first time Petter Northug will compete against his nine-year-old younger brother in the 43-kilometer-long Kobberløppet in Sulitjelma.

“The Kobberløppet is thrilled that both Even and Petter Northug will participate in this year’s edition of the Kobberløppet in Sulitjelma. The audience can look forward to seeing the two legendary brothers compete on skis in the Sulis mountains,” says the general manager of the Kobberløppet, Mona Mosti, to Langrenn.com.

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The battle takes place on April 20, the week after the Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet, Petter Northug’s own signature event at Hafjell and which this year also serves as the final race in the Ski Classics Pro Tour.

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Mosti believes the participation of the Northug brothers will undoubtedly add extra excitement and prestige to Kobberløppet, which is already a popular and recognized ski race that many uses as the end of the ski season.

“Kobberløppet is very proud to have the Northug brothers in Sulis. It helps to create even more engagement around the ski festival. Petter has previously stated that he intends to ski the Kobberløppet every year, and this is clearly contributing to the increased interest in the event,” says Mosti.

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Petter Northug: “The Best Audience”

Kobberløppet starts and finishes in the old mining village of Jakobsbakken, and the race is known for attracting big names. In addition to Petter Northug, ski stars such as Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Bjørn Dæhlie, Andreas Nygaard, Max Novak, and Mattis Stenshagen, as well as Ragnhild Haga, the Øyre Slind sisters, and Anette Bøe are among those who have participated in the race. Here, the men’s national team had a gathering before and after the success of the World Championships in Seefeld.

The professional skiers who have participated have been impressed.

“At the World Championship in Seefeld 2019, Petter Northug stated that the Kobberløppet is the best recreational race with the best audience. Martin Johnsrud Sundby is also impressed and has stated that people need to open their eyes to Sulis,” says Mona Mosti.