Date: Last weekend of March
Distance: 220 km CT
Location: Jokkmokk Ski Stadium, North Sweden
Website: nordenskioldsloppet.com
The world’s longest ski race, Nordenskiöldsloppet, is part of the Worldloppet Global Skimarathon Calendar and Ski Classics Challenger series. The 220 km race is always held on the last weekend of March in Jokkmokk in northernmost Sweden.
The race course runs from Jokkmokk winding straight through the beautiful Lapland landscape to the turning point in Njavve. It runs through untouched wilderness north of the Arctic Circle and follows a ski historical route from 1884. Then polar explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld organized the race to prove that his expedition members could cover long distances in a short time. The winner in 1884 was Pavva Lasse Nilsson Tuorda with a time of 21 hours and 22 minutes, which is also today’s medal time.
The race is held in classic style and is open to both elite and recreational skiers looking for the ultimate endurance test on a pair of skis. After the 05:00 start, skiers have 30 hours to complete the race. Along the course, 16 hydration stations are waiting to provide participants with all the energy they need.
HISTORY
First race: 3 April 1884, 220 km, 18 participants.
Highest number of participants in main race: 617 (2022)
During his second Greenland expedition in 1883, polar explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld let two men of his crew, Pavva Lars Tuorda and Anders Rassa, ski off to explore the inner unknown areas of the ice continent. After about 57 hours, the two Sámi from the Jokkmokk area returned rather exhausted.
They had suffered badly from lack of drinking water (and material for a fire to melt snow) so they were forced to return. They however estimated that they had traveled close to 230 kilometers to the east, i.e. 460 kilometers in total. They had skied almost continuously without sleep for two and a half days, except when they rested in a pit for two hours during a storm.
In his report of the Greenland expedition, Nordenskiöld would admit that it was with some hesitation that he published how far Tuorda and Rassa had traveled in such a short time. He never doubted the veracity of their story himself, but quite rightly foresaw that many others would question the feat on skis. To cover such a distance in so short time with only skis was simply considered impossible.
To disprove the doubters, Nordenskiöld announced a ski race from Jokkmokk to Kvikkjokk and back in the following year. Nordenskiöld meant that it should be possible to complete the total distance of 220 kilometers within a day.
On April 3, 1884, the competition started and there were 18 men on the starting line. Some competitors had already skied between 60 and 90 kilometers the night before to even get to Jokkmokk. Others had made a small excursion of about 160-180 kilometers to Arjeplog only to borrow skis of pine keel.
After 21 hours and 22 minutes, Pavva “Pavva Lasse” Nilsson Tuorda crossed the finish line. His winning time also included a break of about one hour and forty-five minutes in the middle of the race. All participants actually reached Jokkmokk in a relatively shorter time than what Tuorda and Rassa had accomplished on skis on the Greenland ice.
Thus, what many had thought was impossible was proven right and the praise of the skiing heroes was of course great.
Between the 1950s and 1980s, the Nordenskiöldsloppet was organised as a shorter race. However, in 2016, the Nordenskiöldsloppet was restarted on the original course.
HOW TO GET TO NORDENSKIÖLDSLOPPET
By plane: to Luleå has daily several flight connections from Stockholm, Arlanda. From Luleå by car or by bus. Distances for car travel: Luleå-Jokkmokk 175 km. Shuttle busses from Luleå airport: On race weekend there are shuttle busses operated by an external partner available between Luleå Airport to Jokkmokk and back.
By train: There are regular daily train services between Luleå/Boden and Stockholm.
By car: The road connections within Sweden are extremely good.
Distances: From Stockholm Arladna to Jokkmokk, about 990 kilometer
Where to stay
Find other ski challenges for you in the Global Ski Marathon Calendar.
