In Norway, Kevin Brekken Ramsfjell is preparing for a record attempt where he will cross Norway on rollerskis in thirteen days in July. It will be 2.600 kilometers and 30.000 meters of altitude gain. The current record for completing the distance on rollerskis is 34 days. Ramsfjell aims to do it in less than half of that time. 

To break the record, Kevin has to do daily stages of 200km, all without rest days.

“There is no doubt that this is a huge test of strength. I have traveled countless kilometers on rollerskis over the years, but nothing can be compared to this challenge: North Cape to Lindesnes on four wheels,” says Ramsfjell to langrenn.com.

The very ambitious project for Ramsfjell has made the Pro Tour athletes raise their eyebrows.

“It’s cool that he’s trying. 200 km on rollerskis is tough, and it will be a challenge to do it thirteen days in a row,” says Oskar Kardin, Team Ragde Charge, to langrenn.com.

Kardin has extensive experience in long rollerski workouts and runs weekly training sessions of 100km. Earlier in the month, he rollerskied with Emil Persson and Konrad Mattsson Myhr around Storsjön, a workout of just under eleven hours and 220km.

“It was the third year we did this session, so it has become a tradition to do it once a year. It is something completely different than a regular long-distance race on rollerskis, so it is always exciting to see if you go all the way,” says Kardin.

Kardin says he had to stop the first time he did the extreme training but managed it last year. Then Persson had to give up, so they had to do it again this year, and now it has become a tradition.

How does the body feel after such a workout?

“Not so bad, really,” says Kardin.

He also points out that you must be careful with your nutritional intake to cope with the stress.

“It is important that you replenish fluids and nutrients all the way. We had three stops, after 90, 150, and 190km. Then we stopped at grocery stores and bought buns and sweets, Red Bull, iced tea, cola, and everything we were craving. But it is sugar that counts because the body needs a lot of carbohydrates on such extreme workouts,” says Kardin.

What do you think about the ambition to rollerski 2.600 kilometers in 13 days?

“It’s cool that he’s trying. It is a long way to go 200km on rollerskis in one day, and it will be a great challenge to do it 13 days in a row. But I think he can do it, especially if he plans to go on fast wheels with little rolling resistance.

What do you think will be the most challenging thing about Ramsfjell’s record attempt?

“I think the biggest challenge will be to avoid injuries. It is very easy to get strain injuries on such long workouts, especially in the elbows or wrists. Small things like a torn strap can cause big problems over time. Therefore, it is probably wise to plan to switch between classic and skate.”

“Be prepared that it will hurt sooner or later, and have a plan for what you do when you feel that something is going on. Then, for example, it can be a good idea to go maybe a whole day without poles, so that you can give it a chance to get better, says the experienced long-distance skier.

If he succeeds, are you tempted to try to take the record from him?

“No, not right now, at least. Now I want to focus on Ski Classics, and this is so extreme that you can risk a form of strain injury that can ruin the preparations.”