Too much snow for last FIS race of the season

Fri, May  9, 2008 - By FIS

The last cross country ski event on the FIS calendar was the traditional Fossavatn Cross-Country ski marathon that was held in Isafjördur in Iceland on 4th May. It was the 59th edition of the 50 km in the classical technique. which concluded the Cross-Country season, had to be held on a 10 km lap due to too much new snowfall!

In the ladies’ event, the victory went to Lina Andersson (SWE) who triumphed ahead of the veteran Hilde G. Pedersen (NOR) to end an otherwise rather difficult season for her.

In the men’s race, Svein Tore Sinnes (NOR) was almost six minutes faster than the second-ranked Vasaloppet champion Oskar Svard (SWE). In fourth place, the Cross-Country legend Thomas Alsgaard had a very respectable showing for a retiree. The men’s FIS World Cup champion in sprint Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR) finished 7th.

Established in 1935, Fossavatn Ski Marathon is Iceland’s oldest ski race and in fact one of the country’s longest running sport events. It always takes place the last weekend of April or the first weekend of May.