The skiing season in Iceland came to an end in a traditional fashion on Saturday with the Fossavatn Ski Race in the town of Isafjordur. The race celebrated its 70th anniversary and with 168 participants altogether in the four distances (50 km, 20 km, 10 km and 7 km), this was the biggest cross country competition ever to be staged in Iceland.
The main event, 50 km, was won by Norwegian-Icelandic skier Atle Bjerkli, ahead of the 54 years old Icelandic “super veteran” Magnus Eiriksson. The six fold Icelandic national champion this year, Jakob E. Jakobsson, had to settle for the 7th place.
In the women’s 50 km, US skier Linda Ramsdell from Vermont took the overall victory for the second consecutive year. Two other US skiers took the trip to the volcanic island for some spring skiing. In the men’s 50 km, Minnesota skier Bill Callas finished nr. 6 in the 35-49 years group, while in the 20 km race, Bill McFadden finished nr. 5 in the 35-49 years group.
Eilef Mikkelsplass won the men’s 20-kilometer, one second ahead of his more famous brother Pal Gunnar, former Norwegian national team skier and national team coach.
