Tomorrow, the Blink Festival starts in Norway, and the first competition is the Lysebotn Opp, an uphill roller ski event in both double poling and freestyle technique. 

One of the Swedish Pro Team athletes starting the double poling race is Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team. It will be the second time that she competes in Sandnes.

“It was a debut for me at Blink last year, both at Lysebotn and the long race that follows the day after,” Hedenström says to Langd.se.

What are your memories of the competitions?

“Fantastic environment, professionally organized, great atmosphere among the skiers and spectators. Thanks to all the audience, it was a real experience! At Lysebotn Opp, I felt strong uphill but felt like I had more to give. So, we’ll see if I can get it out this year!”

Have you trained specifically for Lysebotn Opp?

“I haven’t trained specifically for these competitions, but I want to be at the start and be happy and determined to become a real winner.”

Do you have any specific goals for the Blink competitions?

“To prepare myself so that I am happy and charged up and to race offensively. It will be two tough days, but that’s what you like about long races!”

The roller ski season is now in full swing. What do you think about roller ski competitions as part of the training during the summertime?

“I am very positive about competitions all year round. It’s a lot of fun to compete, and that’s why you work with skis! It’s also a welcome break in an eat-train-sleep-everyday life to get a feel for the competition confidence, apart from excellent, discipline-specific training. In addition, there will be opportunities for exposure for the teams and the opportunity to test different tactics that you might not have dared to do during the winter season,” concludes Karolina Hedenström.

Not only the Pro Team athletes from Ski Classics compete during the Blink Festival. Several national teams in biathlon and traditional cross-country skiing also race during the week, including sprints in central Sandnes.

Read More: Blink Festival starts tomorrow – Who will fight for the win at Lysebotn Opp?

FACTS: BLINK 2023

• 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:  Sandnes, Lysefjorden and Gjesdal, Norway
• When:  August 2 to 5, 2023 
• Organizers:  Norwegian Ski Association, Norwegian Biathlon Association, Sandnes municipality, and Axelar
• Website: www.blinkfestivalen.no

Program Blink 2023 

August 2, Wednesday:  BLINK Lysebotn Up, 7.5km uphill race, start in Lysefjorden

• 11:30: 1km and 2km girls and boys
• 12:15: 7.5km skating women senior, women junior
• 14:00: 7.5km double poling women and men senior
• 15:30: 7.5km skating men senior, men junior

August 3, Thursday:  BLINK Classics at Ålgård

• 18:45: Start BLINK Classics
• 20:45: Estimated finish BLINK Classics

August 4, Friday: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum 

• 7:30 – 14:20: Cross-country skiing and biathlon: competitions for age groups and juniors 
• 12:00-21:00: OBOS Kid Camp
• 14:30-15:15: Biathlon: Shooting elite
• 15:30-15:50: Cross-country skiing: Prologue women and men
• 15:55-16:50: Biathlon: Shooting duel women and men
• 17:10-18:25: Biathlon: Super sprint qualification elite women and men
• 18:25-18:55: Cross-country skiing: 10km mass start women
• 18:55-19:45: Biathlon: Super sprint final women and men
• 19:45-20: 25: Cross-country skiing: 15km mass start men
• 20:45: Prize-giving ceremony

August 5, Saturday: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum 

• 7:40-14:20: Cross-country skiing and biathlon: competitions for age groups and juniors
• 12:00-21:00: OBOS Kid Camp
• 14:30-15:15: Biathlon: Shooting elite
• 15:20-15:40: Cross-country skiing: Prologue women and men
• 15:45-17:37: Biathlon: Quarter-finals start women and men
• 17:44-19:20: Cross-country skiing: Sprint quarter-finals and semifinals women and men
• 19:22-20:08: Biathlon: Semifinals mass start women and men
• 20:10-20:23: Cross-country skiing: Finals sprint women and men
• 20:25-21:05: Biathlon: finals mass start women and men
• 21:25: Prize-giving ceremony 

All competitions are broadcast on NRK.