Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet sells out in 18 minutes!

Mon, Nov  8, 2010 - By FIS

The popular Norwegian loppet, the Birkebeinerrennet, was sold out 18 minutes after the online registration has started.

Organizers reserved in total of 16,000 start bibs and all of them were gone in 18 minutes. The Birkebeinerrennet takes place on 19 March 2011. This sets a new record as never before has the race been sold out so fast. The sharp increase of interest is more dramatic when we look one year back. It took "long" three weeks to sell all the start bibs.

There are still 1,200 bibs available for foreigners living abroad. Registration opens Nov 9 at noon, Norwegian time.

Birkebeinner History

The race starts in Rena and ends in Lillehammer and covers a distance of 54 km. The number of participants is limited to 16,000 and is usually fully subscribed. The run has been held since 1932 and commemorates a trip made by the Birkebeiner loyalists to save the heir to the Norwegian throne, Håkon Håkonsson, in 1206. All participants carry a backpack weighing at least 3.5 kg, symbolizing the weight of the then one-year old heir.