Skarverennet
Encyclopedia
Skarverennet is a cross country skiing race held in Norway
, arranged by the club Geilo IL
. The race begins in Finse
and finishes in Ustaoset
, it is 38 km long. There is an alternative stretch from Haugastøl
to Ustaoset (26 km). The race takes place near the end of April, the 2006 race was on 22 April.
, many elite cross country skiers and biathletes
take part in the race, these are joined with juniors, mature, and rectreational skiers, although it is dominated in numbers by Norwegians
.
in a time of 1:31.25 hours, followed by Frode Andresen
in second with a time of 1:31.26 hours, and Kristen Skjeldal
in third in a time of 1:31.32 hours. It was Bjørndalen's first win in this race, but both Andresen and Skjeldal have both won the race twice. In the women's race Elin Nilsen
of Norway won the race for the 13th time, in a time of 1:45.49 hours, with Bjørndalen's wife Nathalie Santer coming in second for the second year in a row in a time of 1:48.00 hours, and Marit Bjørgen
came third in 1:48.45 hours.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, arranged by the club Geilo IL
Geilo IL
Geilo Idrettslag is a multi-sports club from Geilo, Norway.Established on 2 December 1917 as Gjeilo SK, it changed its name to Gjeilo IL on 19 May 1918 and later to Geilo IL. It has sections for alping skiing, freestyle skiing, skiing and biathlon, snowboarding, telemark skiing, football, handball...
. The race begins in Finse
Finse
Finse is an area in the Ulvik municipality of Hordaland, Norway. The railway station at Finse on the Bergensbanen at 1,222m is the highest station on the entire Norwegian railway system. Since there are no roads to Finse, the railway provides the sole means of transportation to and from Finse....
and finishes in Ustaoset
Ustaoset
Ustaoset is a village in Hol municipality, Buskerud, Norway. It has a station on Bergensbanen between Geilo and Finse, as well as a hotel and mountain resort cabins....
, it is 38 km long. There is an alternative stretch from Haugastøl
Haugastøl
Haugastøl is a station on the railway line Bergensbanen in Norway. The station is located in the Hol municipality situated between the stations Ustaoset to the east and Finse to the west. The station is 275.5 km from Oslo if one follows the track over Roa. The altitude is 988 metres above sea level...
to Ustaoset (26 km). The race takes place near the end of April, the 2006 race was on 22 April.
Participation
Due to the exposed nature of the race, it takes place in open mountain terrain, the safety of the racers is a priority, and so there is a limit of 14,000 competitors. The racers cross a wide spectrumSpectrum
A spectrum is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary infinitely within a continuum. The word saw its first scientific use within the field of optics to describe the rainbow of colors in visible light when separated using a prism; it has since been applied by...
, many elite cross country skiers and biathletes
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
take part in the race, these are joined with juniors, mature, and rectreational skiers, although it is dominated in numbers by Norwegians
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
.
Winners
The 2006 race was the 33rd Skarverennet. The men's race was won by Ole Einar BjørndalenOle Einar Bjørndalen
Ole Einar Bjørndalen is a Norwegian professional biathlete. He is often regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time. In 1992, he won his first career medal at the junior world championships. A year later In 1993, after winning a record three junior world championship titles, Bjørndalen...
in a time of 1:31.25 hours, followed by Frode Andresen
Frode Andresen
Frode Andresen is a Norwegian biathlete and a cross-country skier. He now resides in Hønefoss, and trains with the Ringkollen Skiklubb.-Early life:...
in second with a time of 1:31.26 hours, and Kristen Skjeldal
Kristen Skjeldal
Kristen Skjeldal is an Olympic champion and cross country skier from Norway. He has won three olympic medals: two gold and one bronze. He won his first gold medal in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville...
in third in a time of 1:31.32 hours. It was Bjørndalen's first win in this race, but both Andresen and Skjeldal have both won the race twice. In the women's race Elin Nilsen
Elin Nilsen
Elin Nilsen is a former Norwegian Cross-country skier who competed from 1990 to 2004. She won three silver medals in the 4 x 5 km at the Winter Olympics...
of Norway won the race for the 13th time, in a time of 1:45.49 hours, with Bjørndalen's wife Nathalie Santer coming in second for the second year in a row in a time of 1:48.00 hours, and Marit Bjørgen
Marit Bjørgen
Marit Bjørgen is a Norwegian cross country skier and triple olympic champion from Midtre Gauldal, Norway. Bjørgen is the most successful sprinter in Cross-Country World Cup history, with twenty-four victories. She is ranked first in the all-time Cross-Country World Cup rankings with forty-eight...
came third in 1:48.45 hours.