Tartu Maraton joins Ski Classics

Ski Classics 2012 will include 7 long distance ski races, new for 2012 is the Estonian race Tartu Maraton.

Ski Classics is the long distance championship across Europe, it had a fantastic first season in 2011. The Ski Classics 2012 season will consist of 7 long distance ski races, new in 2012 is the Estonian race Tartu Maraton. Tartu Maraton start in Otepää and finish 63km later in Elva, it is held in classic technique. The race has a more than 50 years strong tradition and was in the 80´s the biggest ski race in the then Soviet Union.

“The calendar for Ski Classics 2012 looks very exciting, now when also Tartu Maraton has joined Ski Classics the long distance ski concept feels complete. Tartu Maraton is held 2 weeks after König Ludwig Lauf and 2 weeks before Vasaloppet filling up a previous gap in the Ski Classics calendar” Says David Nilsson, Executive Director Ski Classics, he continues “Tartu Maraton is one of the world´s most classic ski races, and gather every year the best long distance skiers.”

“Björn Daehlie, multiple Olympic gold medalist as well as Anders Aukland, double Tartu Maraton winner, have both given a high value to the course of Tartu Marathon mentioning it as one of the best cross country ski courses in the world due to its variable scenery.” says Indrek Kelk, general director of Tartu Maraton, and he continues “Being a part of Ski Classics gives us the possibility to prove to millions of TV-viewers that these two ski-kings have told the truth. We hope that after seeing the beauty of the course and the high organization level of the race through the TV-broadcast, thousands of new skiers around the Europe would like to participate the Tartu Marathon in the future years.”

More Ski Classics news will be presented during the fall in the build up for the 2012 season starting on January 8^th in the Czech Republic.

Ski Classics schedule 2012:
Event 1 Jizerska Padesatka                               Czech Republic 8^th   January 2012
Event 2 Marcialonga                                          Italy                              29^th January 2012
Event 3 König Ludwig Lauf                                Germany                       5^th   February 2012
Event 4 Tartu Maraton                                        Estonia                         19^th February 2012
Event 5 Vasaloppet                                           Sweden                        4^th   March 2012
Event 6 Birkebeinerrennet                                  Norway             17^th March 2012
Event 7 Ski Classics Final – Norefjell                  Norway             31^st March 2012