Fossavatn Ski Marathon
Encyclopedia
Fossavatn Ski Marathon is an annual ski marathon held in Ísafjörður
, northwestern Iceland
.
It is the oldest ski race in Iceland, held since 1935. Although it was cancelled several times in the 1940s and 1950s, the race has been held every year since 1956.
Initially the marathon was 20 km long but in 1987 a shorter distance of 10 km was added, and in 1989 a 7 kilkometre course which made, designed to attract children and beginners. The longest course, the 50 km race, has only been held since 2004 and due to its challenges and difficulties has increasingly attracts international professional skiers, particularly Norwegians. In 2005 the 50 km marathon was added to the FIS
and Fossavatn became a founding partner of the FIS Nordic Ski Marathon Cup
, a series which includes the Holmenkollen Skimaraton
in Norway, Tornedalsloppet
in Sweden, Oulun Tervahiihto
in Finland and the Fossavant Ski Marathon in Iceland.
The most successful athlete to compete in the marathon since its inception in 1935 is a local skier named Kristjan Rafn Gudmundsson, 12 times winner of the Fossavatn Ski Marathon in the 1960s and 1970s. The most prolific competitor is another local named Sigurdur Jonsson, who first competed in 1938.
Ísafjörður
Ísafjörður is a town in the north west of Iceland, seat of Ísafjarðarbær municipality.The town draws its name from the fjord and the fjord was given its name simultaneously to the island...
, northwestern Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
.
It is the oldest ski race in Iceland, held since 1935. Although it was cancelled several times in the 1940s and 1950s, the race has been held every year since 1956.
Initially the marathon was 20 km long but in 1987 a shorter distance of 10 km was added, and in 1989 a 7 kilkometre course which made, designed to attract children and beginners. The longest course, the 50 km race, has only been held since 2004 and due to its challenges and difficulties has increasingly attracts international professional skiers, particularly Norwegians. In 2005 the 50 km marathon was added to the FIS
FIS
FIS may refer to:In English:* Faculty of Information Studies, now the University of Toronto Faculty of Information* Fairy Investigation Society* Far-Infrared Surveyor, an instrument on the AKARI space telescope* Federal Inspection Station of the U.S...
and Fossavatn became a founding partner of the FIS Nordic Ski Marathon Cup
FIS Nordic Ski Marathon Cup
The FIS Nordic Ski Marathon Cup is an official skiing marathon cup held since 2005 and governed by the FIS. The cup consists of four locations, held several weeks apart in each of the Nordic countries...
, a series which includes the Holmenkollen Skimaraton
Holmenkollen Skimaraton
Holmenkollen Skimaraton is an annual ski marathon held in Norway. Held since 1974, in 2005 the race formally became one of the locations of the FIS Nordic Ski Marathon Cup, a series which includes the Holmenkollen Skimaraton, Tornedalsloppet in Sweden, the Fossavatn Ski Marathon in Iceland and...
in Norway, Tornedalsloppet
Tornedalsloppet
Tornedalsloppet is an annual ski marathon held in Övertorneå, Sweden. Held since 1968, Tornedalsloppet is among the older long-distance ski-races in Sweden and the only one which commences in the Arctic Circle and finishes south of it. Traditionally two different races are held, one 45 km for...
in Sweden, Oulun Tervahiihto
Oulun Tervahiihto
Oulun Tervahiihto or Tervahiihto is an annual ski marathon held in Oulu, Finland. Held since 1889, it is the longest-running annual long-distance ski race in the world...
in Finland and the Fossavant Ski Marathon in Iceland.
The most successful athlete to compete in the marathon since its inception in 1935 is a local skier named Kristjan Rafn Gudmundsson, 12 times winner of the Fossavatn Ski Marathon in the 1960s and 1970s. The most prolific competitor is another local named Sigurdur Jonsson, who first competed in 1938.