Beginnings:
Although Nordic skiing has been in existence for at least 4,500 years, formal racing started on March 21, 1843 when the world's first publicly announced non-military skiing competition was held in Tromsø, Norway. In the following years more competition developed in Trondheim and Trysil, Norway. By the turn of that century, international cross country ski races were being periodically held. These races were known as the Nordic Games and were the forerunner of the Winter Olympics.
Impressed with Norway's legendary ski troops, France decided at the end of the Franco-Prussian War to develop their own ski troops. As a result of the French desiring to have ski troops, skiing was taught and the French children were encouraged to ski.
In order to promulgate skiing further, ski competitions were started. This resulted in a Winter Sports Week to be held at Mont Genevu in 1907. In 1908 the venue was changed to Chamonix. Approximately 2,000 skiers participated in this event. By 1912, this number grew to 12,000 people.
The International Olympic Committee selected Berlin to be the site for the first Winter Olympics. Unfortunately, World War I intervened. As a result, the Olympics were canceled until 1924. In 1924 the first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France.
Unlike the present Winter Olympics, Nordic skiing dominated the first games. Almost all of the events involved cross country skiing. No Alpine or downhill ski races were held. As a result, the Norwegians won almost all of the events and completely dominated the games.
Today, there are many races held in most of the snowy areas of the world. Some of the more famous races include the Birkebeiner and the Vasaloppet. Although the original Birkebeiner is held in Norway, a very popular American version is held in Wisconsin every year. I raced in one of the first American Birkebeiner races.
Nordic races tend to cover long distances--typically greater than 20 kilometers and often over 30 kilometers. A winning time for a 30 kilometer race is typically 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Start of the Jizerska Padesatka Race in the Czech Republic.
This is a series of 14 annual races held in Europe, America, Asia, and Australia. Only one race per country is allowed. Although these races vary in length and technique, they cover long distances. There are approximately 80,000 participants (including elite and ordinary skiers) every year.
According to the World Loppet Ski Federation, the World Loppet strategy is (click here for the website) "high quality ski races around the world. Only one and the best race from a country can be a member of the Worldloppet.
A list of the 14 Loppets is located below. As far as possible a link is provided to the appropriate loppet website. Also, descriptions and photographs of individual loppet and other races are given in the following pages.
Jizerska Pedesatka (Czech) | Engadin Skimarathon (Switz) | Marcialonga (Italy) | Konig Ludwig Lauf (Ger) | Finlandia Hiihton (Fin) | Vasaloppet (Sweden)
Tartu Maraton (Estonia) | Birkebeiner Rennet (Nor) | Dolomiten (Austria) | La Transjurassienne (France) | American Birkeiner (USA) | Keskinada Loppet
(Can) | Kangaroo Loppet (Aus) | Sapporo International Ski Marathon (Japan)
Descriptions of Individual Races Located in the Following Pages
For the Birkebeiner Rennet Click Here
