Nordic Islands Adventure Race
Getting Ready for Ragnarok
Press Release / 21.05.2019
During this weekend, May 24.-26., Nordic Islands Adventure Race called "Ragnarök" will take place around the Swedish capital Stockholm. On Friday evening, at precisely 22:00, 16 teams will take off from the city of Östhammar, heading into the night and towards the metropolis.
Along the 300km course, teams will have to conquer many challenges including an 8km underground mine or a technical rope traverse with a mountain bike.
With estimated winning time of 29 hours, Ragnarök is the perfect weekend adventure for local teams but also a race worth travel to for European competitors. Estonian Ace Adventure Team, currently ranked 4th best worldwide, will be on the start line and they are excited to race. Team's captain, Silver Eensaar expressed their enthusiasm in a very Estonian way with a simple statement: "It will be fun!" But teams are not only coming to have fun - there is a 5.000 EUR price money in stake as well as a free entry to the European Championship as Ragnarök is proudly part of the European series of Adventure Racing.
Ragnarök race will be exceptionally well covered by media, aiming to inspire general public as well as all future adventure races. Every day at 19:00 CEST, there will be a "NIAR Live" - a studio show covering all the highlights from the race. (live on our Facebook, YouTube and website). Besides the daily studio, regular live updatesfrom the course will take place via Facebook Live (schedule TBC).
Back in 2017, the team behind Nordic Islands Adventure Race has began a quest to showcase the beauty of Scandinavia to the world through the unique sport of adventure racing.
In 2018, their first race was born following the historical postal route from Stockholm to the city of Turku in Finland. Competitors from 16 countries joined this adventure and while being put against many tough challenges - they all successfully reached the finish line.
In 2019, during the late winter/early spring, the Nordic Islands team organized several workshops that had one goal - spread the word about this extraordinary sport. They were led by the race director and seasoned adventurer Staffan Björklund who made sure to explain the basics of the sport as well as motivate participants to race.
Among the participants was Maria Pietilä-Holmner, former Swedish alpine ski racer and an Olympic athlete. She was intrigued by the challenge so together with other 3 women signed up for both Nordic Islands races in 2019, Ragnarök being their very first adventure race.
Later this year, in July 11.-21., Nordic Islands Adventure Race called "Valhalla" will take its competitors from Åre, Sweden to Ålesund in Norway. This race will be part of the Adventure Racing World Series and it will certainly live up to the expectations as its 700km epic course will take its competitors (read: 'Vikings') over the Scandinavian mountain range to the renowned Norwegian fjords. This will be a tough adventure so if you are up for the challenge sign up now at www.niargames.com.
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