The first day of the Blink Festival 2025 in Norway saw Norwegian cross-country skier Simen Hegstad Krüger claim victory in the challenging uphill race, Lysebotn Opp, in freestyle technique. 

Day one of the festival was highlighted by the demanding 7.5km uphill event, where athletes had the choice of competing in either skating (freestyle) or double poling technique in two separate events.

The freestyle competition featured a solid World Cup field. In the men’s race, Simen Hegstad Krüger took the win, followed by the Norwegian Andreas Fjorden Ree in second place and Iver Tildheim Andersen, also from Norway, in third.

Top 3 Lysebotn Opp, Freestyle Men

1. Simen Hegstad Krüger, Norway, 30:00
2. Andreas Fjorden Ree, Norway, +0:06
3. Iver Tildheim Andersen, +0:12

Complete results can be found HERE

*The story is being updated

Upcoming events at Blink Festival 2025

On Thursday, August 7, it’s time for Blink Classics, a 50-kilometer roller ski race in classic technique.

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

Also Read – Blink Festival 2025: Complete calendar

FACTS: BLINK FESTIVAL 2025

• 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: Norway
• When: August 6 to 9, 2025
• Website: Blink Festival

Program

Wednesday, August 6:  BLINK Lysebotn Up, 7.5km uphill race (More information can be found HERE and HERE)

• 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 7:  BLINK Classics at Ålgård (More information can be found HERE)

• 15:00-23:00 CET: Folk Festival at Ålgård – activities for children and young people
• 15:00 CET: Jæren Sparebank Kid Camps opens
• 15:00-15:45 CET: Children’s entertainment with Fire Bear Bjørnis
• 17:00-17:45 CET: Children’s entertainment with Fire Bear Bjørnis
• 18:45 CET: Start BLINK Classics
• 20:45 CET: Estimated finish time BLINK Classics
• 21:15 CET: Free concert with DDE

Friday, August 8: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum (More information can be found HERE and HERE)

• 7:00-14:20 CET: Competitions for age groups and juniors 
• 12:00-21:00 CET: Rogaland Sparebank Kid Camp: Activities for children and young people in Rutenparken
• 14:00-14:45 CET: Children’s entertainment with Fire Bear Bjørnis
• 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: Children’s entertainment with Fire Bear Bjørnis
• 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 Postgirobygget

Saturday, August 9: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum (More information can be found HERE and HERE)

• 7:30-14:20 CET: Competitions for age groups and juniors
• 11:00-12:00 CET: Free brunch
• 12:00-21:00 CET: Rogaland Sparebank Kid Camp: Activities for children and young people in Rutenparken
• 12:00-12:45 CET: Children’s entertainment with Fire Bear Bjørnis
• 14:15-15:00 CET: Prize-giving ceremony for age groups in Rutenparken
• 14:30-15:15 CET: Shooting – biathlon elite
• 15:30-15:44 CET: Cross-country skiing – prologue women and men
• 16:05-17:28 CET: Biathlon – Quarterfinals mass start women and men
• 16:00-16:45 CET: Children’s entertainment with Fire Bear Bjørnis
• 17:44-19:20 CET: Cross-country skiing – quarterfinals and semifinals sprint women and men
• 19:22-20:08 CET: Biathlon – semifinals mass start women and men
• 20:10-20:23 CET: Cross-country skiing – finals sprint women and men
• 20:25-21:05 CET: Biathlon – finals mass start women and men
• 21:25 CET: Awards ceremony
• 21:45 CET: Free concert with CC Cowboys

For a comprehensive Blink Festival events program, click HERE

The Roller Ski Guide 2025 

We invite you to delve into our comprehensive Roller Ski Guide 2025.

Read More: Roller Ski Guide 2025

Are you interested in training for roller skiing, long-distance, and traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.

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