“We have never had a stronger field,” says the Blink Festival organizer.

The first competition day is Wednesday, and there will be races in long-distance, traditional cross-country skiing, and biathlon, all on roller skis. Much happens in Sandnes center, but Lysebotn Opp is the uphill race in the well-known hairpin bends from Lysefjord to the top of the mountain. The long-distance race takes place in Ålgård, a bit further south.

Unfortunately, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has been forced to withdraw due to injury and illness. Still, crowd magnets such as Johannes Thingnes Bø and Petter Northug Jr. are expected to attract large audiences to the Norway TV-broadcasted competitions.

Also Read: Klæbo skips Blink Festival

Northug is registered for three of the four competition days, and he will meet his old rival, Calle Halfvarsson, in Lysebotn Opp, which is not a favorite race for either of the two. But in the 50km Blink Classics the day after, both have better chances against the prominent Pro Teams.

Skiers from 20 nations are registered, which is a truly international competition.

FACTS: BLINK FESTIVAL 2024

• 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:  July 31 to August 3, 2024
• Website: https://www.blinkfestivalen.no/

Program

Wednesday, July 31:  BLINK Lysebotn Up, 7.5km uphill race

• 11:00 CET: 1km and 2km girls and boys
• 11:45 CET: 7.5km skate women senior and women junior
• 13:30 CET: 7.5km double poling women and men senior
• 15:00 CET: 7.5km skate men senior and men junior
• Prize giving at Øygardstøl after the finish

Thursday, August 1:  BLINK Classics at Ålgård

• 15:00-23:00 CET: Folk Festival at Ålgård – activities for children and young people
• 15:00-15:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen
• 17:00-17:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen
• 18:45 CET: Start BLINK Classics
• 20:45 CET: Estimated finish time BLINK Classics
• 21:15 CET: Free concert with Postgirobygget

Friday, August 2: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum 

• 7:00-14:20 CET: Competitions for age groups and juniors 
• 12:00-21:00 CET: Kid Camp – activities for children and young people in Rutenparken
• 14:00-14:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen in Rutenparken
• 14:30-15:15 CET: Shooting – biathlon elite
• 15:30-15:50 CET: Cross-country skiing – prologue women and men
• 15:55-16:50 CET: Biathlon – shooting duel women and men
• 17:00-17:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen in Rutenparken
• 17:10-18:25 CET: Biathlon – super sprint qualification elite women and men
• 18:25-18:55 CET: Cross-country skiing – 10km mass start women
  18:55-19:45 CET: Biathlon – super sprint final women and men
• 19:45-20:25 CET: Cross-country skiing – 15km mass start men
• 20:45 CET: Award ceremony
• 21:00 CET: Free concert with D.D.E.

Saturday, August 3: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum 

• 7:30-14:20 CET: Competitions for age groups and juniors
• 11:00-12:00 CET: Free brunch
• 12:00-21:00 CET: Kid Camp – activities for children and young people in Rutenparken
• 12:00-12:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen in Rutenparken
• 14:15-15:00 CET: Prize-giving ceremony for age groups in Rutenparken
• 14:30-15:15 CET: Shooting – biathlon elite
• 15:30-15:40 CET: Cross-country skiing – prologue men
• 15:45-17:37 CET: Biathlon – qualification mix and single mix relay
• 16:00-16:45 CET: Show with Superbussen and Fantorangen in Rutenparken
• 17:44-19:20 CET: Cross-country skiing – quarterfinals and semifinals sprint women and men
• 19:22-20:08 CET: Biathlon – final mixed relay
• 20:10-20:23 CET: Cross-country skiing – finals sprint women and men
• 20:25-21:05 CET: Biathlon – final single mix relay
• 21:25 CET: Awards ceremony
• 21:45 CET: Free concert with Highasakite

All Blink Festival competitions are broadcast on NRK. 

Here are some of the top athletes for the Blink Festival 2024

Blink Classics, Long-Distance

• Team Aker Dæhlie: Max Novak, Petter Stakston, Stian Hoelgaard, Magnus Vesterheim, Endre Lykken, Isabel Valen, Astrid Øyre Slind, Silje Øyre Slind
• Team Eksjöhus: Morten Eide Pedersen, Axel Jutterström, Eirik Augdal, Vebjørn Moen, Thomas Ødegården, Jeremy Royer, Sofie Elebro, Frida Ekers, Kati Roivas, Magni Smedås, Louise Lindström
• Team Engcon: Torleif Syrstad, Anton M. Elvseth, Johan Tjelle, Eddie Edström, Ole-Jørgen Bruvoll, Amund Hoel, Hanna Lodin
• Team Ramudden: Hermann Paus, Amund Riege, Alfred Buskqvist, Anton Persson, Thomas Joly, Ida Palmberg, Julie Kvale Støstad, Emilie Fleten
• Lager 157 Ski Team: Alvar Myhlback, Emil Persson, Oskar Kardin, Marcus Johansson, Runar Skaug Mathisen, Jenny Larsson, Karolina Hedenström
• Team Ragde Charge: Andreas Nygaard, Kasper Stadaas, Johan Hoel, Mathias Aas Rolid
• Team Nordic Experience: Mathieu Blanc, Gaspard Meyer, Luc Primet, Lennie Vincent, Boris Berglez, Brice Milici, Mattis Basille, Bastien Laurent, Avelino Naepflin, Sabin Coupat, Eve-Ondine Duchaufour, Laurie Flochon-Joly, Amelie Suiffet, Oceane Bepoix, Leonie Harivel
• i3 Ski Team: Ugo Zanellato, Simon Vuillet, Nathan Juannon, Pierre Belingheri, Victor Cullet, Noa Genest, Tania Kurek, Suzette Christin
• Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso: Henning Lie, Halvor Korbøl Thoner, Håkon Holden, Henrik Joks, Marie Renèe Sørum Gangsø, Thea Snortheimsmoen, Karen Amalie Nordseth
• Team Robinson Trentino: Oda Nerdrum
• Team Kaffebryggeriet: Henrik Syverinsen, Fredrik Helgestad, Simen Bratberg Ramstad
• Team Synnfjell: Henrik Vik Tolo, Marius Viken Vesterås, Per Ingvar Tollehaug, Jonas Bergli, Isabella Vianello, Jenny Elise Haakstad
• Team NTNUI: Eskil Frøisland, Halfdan Baumann
• Ski Team Göhlins: Johannes Eklöf
• Exsitec Ski Team: Einar Kalland-Olsen

Traditional Cross-Country Skiing

• Norway: Harald Østberg Amundsen, Even Northug, Simen Hegstad Krüger, Iver Tildheim Andersen, Didrik Tønseth, Pål Golberg, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Håvard Solås Taugbøl, Erik Valnes, Ansgar Evensen, Margrethe Bergane, Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs, Julie Myhre, Mathilde Skjærdalen Myhrvold, Lotta Udnes Weng, Heidi Weng. Anne Kjersti Kalvå and Tiril Udnes Weng will not participate.
• Other skiers outside the Norwegian national team: Petter Northug Jr, Gjøran Tefre, Helene Marie Fossesholm, Silje Theodorsen, Emma Kirkeberg Mørk, Amalie H. Ous, Kari Øyre Slind
• Andorra: Ireneu Esteve Altimiras, Gina del Rio, Carola Vila
• Finland: Iivo Niskanen
• France: Lucas Chanavat, Gaspard Rousset, Sabin Coupat, Julien Arnaud, Juliette Ducordeau, Melissa Gal, Lena Quentin
• Ireland: Thomas Maloney
• Italy: Federico Pellegrino, Francesco De Fabiani, Paolo Ventura, Davide Graz, Elia Barp, Simone Dapra, Anna Comarella, Martina Di Centa, Caterina Ganz, Francesca Franchi
• Spain: Bernat Selles Gasch, Jaume Pueyo Repullo
• Great Britain: Andrew Musgrave, Andrew Young, James Clugnet, Joe Davies, Gabriel Gledhill
• Switzerland: Cyril Fahndrich, Arnaud du Pasquier, Nadine Fähndrich
• Sweden: Calle Halfvarsson, Fredrik Andersson, Linn Sömskar, Ebba Andersson
• Czech Republic: Katerina Janatova
• USA: Sophia Laukli
• Austria: Lukas Mrkonjic, Michael Foettinger, Benjamin Moser, Mika Vermulen, Katharina Brudermann

Biathlon

• Norway: Johannes Thingnes Bø, Tarjei Bø, Sturla Holm Lægreid, Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, Endre Strømsheim, Karoline Knotten, Juni Arnekleiv, Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide, Marthe Krokstad Johansen, Ida Lien. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold will not participate.
• France: Antonin Guigonnat, Emilien Jacquelin, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, Emilien Claude, Mathieu Garcia, Lou Jeanmonot, Paula Botet, Justine Braisaz, Julia Simon, Chloe Chevalier, Sophie Chauveau, Gillone Guigonnat
• Sweden: Oskar Ohlsson, Alfred Eriksson, Oscar Lombardot, Hanna Öberg, Elvira Öberg
• Ukraine: Dmytro Pidruchnyi, Chykar Vladyslav
• Germany: Roman Rees, Justus Strelow, David Zobel, Phillip Horn, Phillip Nawrath, Johannes Kuehn, Danilo Riethmueller, Simon Kaiser, Vanessa Voigt, Sophia Schneider, Franziska Preuss, Hanna Kebinger, Janina Hettich-Walz, Johanna Puff, Selina Grotian
• Switzerland: Arnaud du Pasquier
• Latvia: Baiba Bendika
• Slovakia: Anastasia Kuzmina

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.