Two Busy Weekends At Beitostolen

The organizers of this weekends Norway Cup opening and the following weekend’s World Cup races at Beitostolen, Norway are expecting 1100 racers, support personnel and press people for the two weekends.

It’s the first time this (very) small place has hosted the Norwegian XC opener, the biathlon opener and the regular World Cup opener all during two “packed” weekends in November.

Secretary of race Erik Ostli has these comments:

“We have organized World Cup races here in previous years as well, but nothing has been like this. It’s more work, but also more fun”

He says that they have roughly 320 people helping with the actual races in addition to the year-round crew. Ostli is a busy man working from7.00 AM until 10 PM every day ahead of the races.

Advertising and Promotion

Ostli believes that this giant event is very valuable for Beitostolen

 “It important and valuable for the whole region. They will send live coverage for 17 hours on Norwegian television. Imagine how much that would cost if you were going to buy advertising space. The German TV station ARD will also visit and show live coverage. We can definitely feel that Beitostolen has become a better know place as a result of the last years World Cup races.

Beitostolen is being showcased more than ever this year. The Biathlon opener is like a World Championship including strong nations like Italy, France and Germany.

Tsjekkia, Slovenia and Switzerland are all competing in the Norwegian cross country opener this weekend ahead of the arrival of the rest of the Cross Country World.

Weather dependant

“I have not thought much about how many spectators we are hoping for. That really depends upon the weather, but we believe in an average of 2-3000 per day”.

He thinks that there is a possibility that there might be more spectators for the Norwegian opening this weekend than during the World Cup weekend. Regardless of the numbers he hopes for a positive experience for everyone including the racers, event workers and spectators.

“I hope that everyone will have a “time of their life” watching the World’s best skiers and then come back some day when we don’t have races on the agenda. We will try to help everyone as much as we possibly can. I also wish for a technically good and fair organized event”.

What are you most looking forward to?

“Maybe for it to be over with? I’m actually really looking forward to my own kids to take part in a training camp here the weekend after the World Cup races”.