The Blink Festival starts this Wednesday with the uphill race Lysebotn Opp, and many of the top Ski Classics Pro Team athletes and traditional cross-country skiers will be on the start line for the double poling and freestyle races.

The Blink Festival offers four intense competition days from July 31 to August 3, with the first competition day, Lysebotn Opp, considered one of the most challenging.

Lysebotn Opp is a 7.5-kilometer-long uphill race in which the athletes make it to the top via 27 hairpin turns at an average gradient of 10%. The event is contested using two techniques in separate races: freestyle and double poling.

A strong presence of Pro Teams is confirmed for this year’s double poling edition. The complete lists can be found below, but the start lists include Ski Classics stars Kati Roivas, Magni Smedås, Emilie Fleten, Karolina Hedenström, Hanna Lodin, Astrid Øyre Slind, Emil Persson, Max Novak, Alvar Myhlback, Eirik Sverdrup Augdal, Axel Jutterström, Johan Hoel, among others.

For the skating race, top athletes are also confirmed as Ebba Andersson, Heidi Weng, Nadine Fähndrich, Katarina Janatova, Lena Quintin, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Simen Hegstad Krüger, Calle Halfvarsson, Simone Dapra, Lucas Chanavat, among many others.

Lysebotn Opp Start Lists – Senior Athletes

• Lysebotn Opp Start List – Double Poling Women
• Lysebotn Opp Start List – Double Poling Men
• Lysebotn Opp Start List – Freestyle Women
• Lysebotn Opp Start List – Freestyle Men

On Thursday, August 1, it’s time for Blink Classics, a 50-kilometer roller ski race in classic technique, with Astrid Øyre Slind and Andrew Musgrave as reigning champions.

Read More: Double win for Team Aker Dæhlie at Blink Classics 2023

On Friday, a 10/15 kilometers mass start race awaits the cross-country skiers, and on Saturday, a sprint race.

Ski Classics Pro Teams

• Team Ramudden
• Team Aker Dæhlie
• Lager 157 Ski Team
• Team Eksjöhus
• Team Engcon
• Team Ragde Charge
• Team Kaffebryggeriet
• Exsitec Ski Team
• i3 Ski Team
• Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso
• Team Synnfjell
• Ski Team Göhlins
• Team Front Rustad IL
• Team NTNUI
• Team Nordic Experience
• Team Robinson Trentino
• Team Northug

Also Read – Blink Festival 2024: Complete calendar

FACTS: BLINK FESTIVAL 2024

• 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:  July 31 to August 3, 2024
• Website: https://www.blinkfestivalen.no/

Program

Wednesday, July 31:  BLINK Lysebotn Up, 7.5km uphill race

• 11:00 CET: 1km and 2km girls and boys
• 11:45 CET: 7.5km skate women senior and women junior
• 13:30 CET: 7.5km double poling women and men senior
• 15:00 CET: 7.5km skate men senior and men junior
• Prize giving at Øygardstøl after the finish

Thursday, August 1:  BLINK Classics at Ålgård

• 15:00-23:00 CET: Folk Festival at Ålgård – activities for children and young people
• 15:00-15:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen
• 17:00-17:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen
• 18:45 CET: Start BLINK Classics
• 20:45 CET: Estimated finish time BLINK Classics
• 21:15 CET: Free concert with Postgirobygget

Friday, August 2: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum 

• 7:00-14:20 CET: Competitions for age groups and juniors 
• 12:00-21:00 CET: Kid Camp – activities for children and young people in Rutenparken
• 14:00-14:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen in Rutenparken
• 14:30-15:15 CET: Shooting – biathlon elite
• 15:30-15:50 CET: Cross-country skiing – prologue women and men
• 15:55-16:50 CET: Biathlon – shooting duel women and men
• 17:00-17:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen in Rutenparken
• 17:10-18:25 CET: Biathlon – super sprint qualification elite women and men
• 18:25-18:55 CET: Cross-country skiing – 10km mass start women
  18:55-19:45 CET: Biathlon – super sprint final women and men
• 19:45-20:25 CET: Cross-country skiing – 15km mass start men
• 20:45 CET: Award ceremony
• 21:00 CET: Free concert with D.D.E.

Saturday, August 3: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum 

• 7:30-14:20 CET: Competitions for age groups and juniors
• 11:00-12:00 CET: Free brunch
• 12:00-21:00 CET: Kid Camp – activities for children and young people in Rutenparken
• 12:00-12:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen in Rutenparken
• 14:15-15:00 CET: Prize-giving ceremony for age groups in Rutenparken
• 14:30-15:15 CET: Shooting – biathlon elite
• 15:30-15:40 CET: Cross-country skiing – prologue men
• 15:45-17:37 CET: Biathlon – qualification mix and single mix relay
• 16:00-16:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen in Rutenparken
• 17:44-19:20 CET: Cross-country skiing – quarterfinals and semifinals sprint women and men
• 19:22-20:08 CET: Biathlon – final mixed relay
• 20:10-20:23 CET: Cross-country skiing – finals sprint women and men
• 20:25-21:05 CET: Biathlon – final single mix relay
• 21:25 CET: Awards ceremony
• 21:45 CET: Free concert with Highasakite

All competitions are broadcast on NRK. 

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.