In the unique surroundings of the Lofoten Islands we are offering you the opportunity to do an amazing race as a team in the never-ending light of the midnights sun; Lofoten Ultra-Trail! That’s right. You won’t need your head lamp for this one!
This Race Manual is for Lofoten Ultra-Trail 100 Miles RELAY RACE.
This is an ultra-trail where the organizers will do ALL SUPPORT. External support is ONLY accepted at stations. There is only one exception – as a team you will have to transport each team member to the switches that will take place at the service stations.
Before you register a team for the 100 Miles relay make sure all members read the Race Manual thoroughly. It is crucial that the team is aware of what the race will require both for preparations and throughout the race. The track will be marked from start to finish. Be prepared.
Welcome to a mind moving experience with The Arctic Triple // Lofoten Ultra-Trail!
Best,
The Arctic Triple Team
The Arctic Triple event series has a strong focus on the environment. We want to do everything we can to make the most environmentally friendly races in the world – and having hundreds of support cars on the roads does not sound right. That way the roads are less crowded and safer for the athletes and crew.
The route for Lofoten Ultra-Trail WILL BE MARKED to make the experience is safer and better for the athletes. We also actively try not to produce any unnecessary items that most likely will end up as trash or in the back of a closet.
We are lucky to be able to do an ultra-trail in the amazing and wild nature of the Lofoten islands, and for this to continue we need to take care. It is under no circumstances allowed to throw any trash along the different parts of Lofoten Ultra-Trail. There will be trash buckets on the service points – throw trash there and nowhere else.
Note! If athletes are seen throwing trash on the track this will lead to penalties or even disqualification.
Leave nothing but a “Thank you” behind.
Here’s the main info!
The 100 Miles Relay Race has 10 stages
Technical data: 100 Miles (166 KM), about 7000 meters of positive ascent
Age limit 16 years
The race entry fee includes all support needed for the race – external support is only allowed at stations and besides managing team transport for the switch between the stages
Mandatory equipment for all participants to be packed in backpack or worn on body for the entire race
Transportation will be set up and athletes may book transportation for themselves and support to the starting line (and back to the finish line in Svolvær for supporters)
Cut off time at check point Kleppstad
Teams for the 100 Miles race relay must pass check point Kleppstad (144 KM) no later than 32 hours after start and pass medical check to be allowed to continue the race.
Cut off time at check point Kongsmarka
Teams for the 100 Miles race must pass check point Kongsmarka (158 KM) no later than 36 hours after start
10 Service Points for food/drinks
9 Transition Points switches between the stages
The route is marked from start to finish.
The finish line is at the town square in Svolvær
A Team Finisher shirt will be awarded all teams that complete the race
Please check www.thearctictriple.com for updated info. We also recommended you to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Many are eager to do all three races – to get an official result you must complete them all individually within 12 months:
GOLD – Lofoten Skimo 4000+, Lofoten Ultra-Trail 100 Miles and Lofoten Triathlon Extreme
SILVER – Lofoten Skimo 4000+, Lofoten Ultra-Trail 50 Miles and Lofoten Triathlon Extreme
BRONZE – Lofoten Skimo 1000+, Lofoten Ultra-Trail 24KM and Lofoten Triathlon Olympic+ (and other combinations of Skimo/Ultra-Trail/Triathlon that are not covered by gold or silver).
Please note! The 100 Miles relay race does not qualify for the triple awards
Join us to send off the 100 Miles runners! Book the supporter package and get the bus transport and the boat ride to the starting line. The bus leaves Svolvær at 0800 Friday morning – we’re back in the afternoon.
The entry fee includes full support:
Start kit
The Arctic Triple buff
Drink and food stations
First Aid
Evacuation transport
Timing
Tracking
Warm meal after finish
Early breakfast athletes staying at event hotel
Boat ride to the starting line from Reine to Kirkefjorden
Meal deals
Team Finisher shirt
Note! Possibility to leave clothes not needed for the race behind at the starting line to be transported back to Svolvær.
The entry fee is non-refundable, no matter the cause of your cancellation.
Mandatory equipment for all participants to be packed in backpack or worn on body for the race:
Identification (driver’s license or credit card)
Wind and water repellent jacket
Wind and water repellent pants
Whistle
Underwear (upper and lower)
Hat and gloves
Emergency blanket/shelter
Credit card or cash
GPS (wrist watch/smartphone are approved) with sufficient capacity
Fully charged cell phone + extra batteries/power bank
Basic first aid kit (tape, bandage/compress, blister tape, safety-pin)
Advised/recommended equipment:
Telescopic sticks /trekking poles (you must keep them throughout the whole of the race), change of clothing, compass, knife, string, sun cream, Vaseline or anti-chaffing cream, needle and thread…
The following rules apply to all teams at the 100 Miles Relay Race:
10 stages
One athlete can run a maximum of two stages
All runners must wear the correct start number for the given stage at all times
The team must organize their own transport for the switches
All switches will take place at the Service Points and be controlled by the organizer. Note! Make sure the time chip and GPS tracker is handed over to the next runner.
Each team must have a Captain and a second in command – these are referred to as 1st Captain and 2nd
1st Captain is responsible for the team and the main contact for the organizer before the race. He/she is also responsible to follow up the team and make sure all rules are followed for the first part of the race (stages 1 till 5).
2nd Captain is responsible to follow up the team and make sure all rules are followed for the second part of the race (stages 5 till 10).
Both captains MUST be present at the prerace briefing on Thursday afternoon.
Note! All team members are strongly encouraged to participate.
NO SUPPORT is allowed besides assisting the switches or in case of emergency.
Note! If a team member is unable to finish a stage, he/she can be replaced by another team member. The responsible captain must inform the organizer immediately! The replaced team member will not be allowed to continue the race at a later stage. Please note that each team member can only run two stages.
The team car and the captain in charge must be marked at all times (markings are handed out by the organizer)
S 1 11 km / 750 m Kirkefjorden – Selfjord
S 2 9 km / 500 m Selfjord – Fredvang
S 3 19 km / 400 m Fredvang – Nusfjord
S 4 17 km / 900 m Nusfjord – Napp
S 5 17 km / 300 m Napp – Leknes
S 6 17 km / 350 m Leknes – Brustranda
S 7 24 km / 800 m Brustranda – Torvdalshalsen
S 8 17 km / 1150 m Torvdalshalsen – Moland/Valbergveien
S 9 12 km / 150 m Moland – Kleppstad
S 10 20 km / 1150 m Kleppstad – Svolvær
Stages in total – 166 KM and above 7000 meter elevation.
The service points are our most important contact with you as a participant during the race. There is one very important rule you have to follow – you need to make contact with the crew and identify yourself before the hand over to the next runner. The Team Captain is responsible for all team switches to be done according to the set rules.
SP 1 11 km Selfjord
SP 2 20 km Fredvang
SP 3 39 km Nusfjord
SP 4 56 km Napp
SP 5 73 km Leknes
SP 6 90 km Brustranda
SP 7 114 km Torvdalshalsen
CP 8 129 km Vikjorden/Valbergveien
CP 9 141 km Kleppstad
This is an ultra-trail where the organizers will do ALL SUPPORT. No external support is accepted.
Note! Receiving support from anyone else but the The Arctic Triple Crew may lead to time penalties and/or disqualification.
SP 1 11 km Selfjord
SP 2 20 km Fredvang
SP 3 39 km Nusfjord
SP 4 56 km Napp
SP 5 73 km Leknes
SP 6 90 km Brustranda
SP 7 114 km Torvdalshalsen
SP 8 129 km Vikjorden/Valbergveien
CP 9 141 km Kleppstad (CUT OFF TIME 1)
CP 10 156 km Kongsmarka (CUT OFF TIME 2)
Note! All positions for service points/check points have an approximate kilometer distance from the starting point.
Drink – unlimited water and sports drink (mix in drink system). Hot drinks – coffee and tea – will be available from Service Point 2 at Fredvang.
Food – The Arctic Triple bun, chips, nuts and bananas. Hot soup and premade sandwiches will also be available from Check Point 1 at Napp.
Warm blankets available on all service points.
Medical equipment – basic kit.
Note! You may refill water from natural water sources along the track.
Participants for the 100 Miles Relay race must pass check point Kleppstad (144 KM) no later than 32 hours after start and pass medical check to be allowed to continue the race.
Participants for the 100 Miles Relay race must pass check point Kongsmarka (158 KM) no later than 36 hours after start.
This race has everything. Mountains. Beaches. Villages. Farms. Peaks. Iconic bridges. 100% Lofoten!
There will be trails. Some easy, most of them extremely technically demanding. There may also be snow covering part of the trails. Part of the terrain legs will not have trails at all – even if the official maps you have bought tells you so.. There are a few flat running km here and there on either asphalt or gravel road. There are three longer asphalt legs on about 10 km. You’ll need them.
Participants are expected to navigate by GPS and maps for the entire race. Markings will be at a minimum. Always pay attention to your GPS and always have the map available for quick checks.
We strongly recommend that all participant’s take a very close look at the entire route on detailed maps before entering the race. GPS tracks for both distances will be available to download on www.thearctictriple.no minimum 14 days before the race. Please note that the route may change due to weather conditions. This race is in the arctic. Be prepared.
The Arctic Triple // Lofoten Ultra-Trail is an extremely demanding race that covers a total of 100 miles (about 168 km in total). Please take special notice of the fact that the terrain legs are especially hard and that there will be a total of about 7000 Meters positive ascent. It might look easy on the map. It’s not.
Note! There are only two tunnels that you’ll run through, the underwater tunnel from Napp to Offersøy and the last tunnel when you are only a km from the finish line in Svolvær. All other tunnels you’ll run old trails/roads OVER the mountain ridge.
Keynotes: Extremely technically demanding trails for the entire route. Pay attention to where you put your feet!
The starting line is in Kirkefjorden in the bottom of Reinefjorden. To get there all participants will be transported by boat from Reine. The boat ride takes about 20 minutes and it is a scenic experience! The first 20 km are terrain and maybe the most demanding part of the entire route with several mountains to pass. The trail is very technically demanding and there is only a few km on gravel road from Selfjord till you take off towards Kvalvika. The trails will take you past two beaches in Kvalvika and you will run on the actual beach before the next mountain passing towards Fredvang. Service station located at Fredvang.
Keynotes: Nice flat run over scenic bridges and an historic trail with panoramic views. Demanding trails. Again.
From Fredvang you’ll get the first leg on asphalt on your way towards Ytre Skjelfjord. After about 8 km the road becomes a gravel road the last 6 km to Nesland. Here you enter a historic fishermen’s trail towards the iconic village of Nusfjord. The trail is about 5 km and has a technical trail that also require some light “climbing” over rocks and a short ladder. Service station at Nusfjord.
From Nusfjord you’ll follow the main road for about 3 km before you enter the trail to Napp. The trail from follows the coastline and has a lot of ups and downs. Very demanding so keep the focus. You will have a great view towards the next island on the race – Vestvågøy. At Napp you must check into the first checkpoint and pick up your first special needs bag.
Keynotes: Underwater tunnel and terrain leg around the mountain Offersøykammen before some km road running on asphalt to Leknes
The route from Napp continues through an underwater tunnel (1780 m) before you make a sharp turn to the right after the exit to get on the
trail around Offersøy.
The trail around Offersøy is very nice and easy to begin with. When you pass the cave from the stone age after about 2 km on the trail, the condition of the trail changes to more technically. There hardly is a trail. In this middle section follow the rocky coastline. The last kilometers of the trail around Offersøy is flat.
When you hit the road again it is a very nice and scenic run to the service point at Leknes.
Keynotes: Scenic road running
From Leknes you run through the town and uphill towards Hagskaret. After crossing Hagskaret a scenic downhill awaits towards the fjord. Before you hit the fjord you take a left and follow the sea side and the scenic Valberg Road until Brustranda Fjordcamping.
Keynotes: Trailrunning in the mountains, gravel and road running in the end.
From Brustranda you follow the valley along Steinbakkelva until you take east towards Vårliheia and Tjønndalsheia. Further you run a trail downhill towards Lauvdalen where you hit the gravel road for the 3 km. Then you hit the asphalt and run around Innerpollen before Torvdalshalsen awaits.
Keynotes: Mountain passing in the footprints of Vikings, pay attention to the GPS to make sure you are on track. The quality of the trail varies and is somewhat less visible..
From Borgfjorden you will follow the farm road towards the mountain. There is a grass/gravel road up the first mountainside. Before the road ends you are to get onto a trail towards Vardheia where you enter a trail towards the ridge of the Daltuva mountain. It’s a magically flat mountain top surrounded by peaks. Follow the ridge down towards the small lakes and then a trail leading to Vikjorden and a service point down at the main road.
Then you’ll get about 10 km of asphalt until you get to the service- and checkpoint after you have passed over the Gimsøystraumen bridge. This checkpoint is crucial, as it is a final cut-off point before the last terrain leg. If you are too late OR not fit to continue this is it..
Keynotes: The last part of the track is fully marked by the organizer. The final mountain passes are ahead of you and watch where you put your feet! There is hardly or no trail when leaving Olderfjorden North to enter the mountain pass.
If you are within the cut off time at the checkpoint, and in a condition to complete the race, you will be allowed to continue. For about 3 km the route follows the main road before you hit gravel road towards Olderfjorden N. The track continues on gravel road and trail for about 5 km before you take a sharp turn and hit the final mountain pass. From here on there is no trail till you are on the other side of the ridge. Steep ascent.
After the ridge you’ll follow two small lakes and then pass behind the ridge of the mountain Dronningtinden, before the decent towards a power station. This is where the final check point is set.
If you make the cut off for Check Point 4 you will continue along a gravel road until you turn at the end of the lake towards the final mountain – Tjeldbergtinden. The route passes over the mountain and take you down to a gravel road on the other side. Follow the road down to the main road and start on the final kilometers towards the town square of Svolvær.
When you run through the tunnel continue straight till you hit the harbor, make a right turn and follow the quay towards the finish line. And you’re done.. Congratulations!
Rules are set to a minimum. We trust that you will use common sense and take action if you see that other participants need emergency assistance. The most important rule of all is that you must read the entire race manual thoroughly – there is nothing in here that you can afford to miss.
This is an ultra-trail relay where the organizers will do ALL SUPPORT. External support is only accepted in transition zones. Receiving support from anyone else but the The Arctic Triple Crew may lead to time penalties and/or disqualification.
All athletes must be over 16 years of age.
All athletes are required to have a national license in order to start. This can be purchased at registration for Lofoten Ultra-Trail. Foreign athletes must have licenses from their own country or sign a release of liability form upon registration.
All athletes must have the mandatory equipment in their backpack for the race. There will be random checks and any missing or substandard equipment may lead to disqualification.
The route will be marked. But we recommend reading and studying the route. Download the Navigation Map at http://www.thearctictriple.no/lofoten-ultratrail/
Route with waypoints for the GPS must be downloaded on our website and installed on your GPS device before you start the race. The route must be followed at all times. No short cuts will be accepted.
The time chip must be worn during the whole race. If the chip is lost it is the athletes responsibility to contact the Lofoten Triathlon Crew to get a new chip. There is a 50 Euro fee for losing the time chip.
Note! The time chip must be worn on your right leg pointing outwards.
The GPS tracker must be worn during the whole race. The tracker is an important safety device for the organizers, but also fun for both supporters and the audience in general to follow the athletes online during the race. Please note the organizer as soon as possible if the tracker is lost.
Note! If the GPS tracker is lost during the race or not handed back to the organizer within Sunday, a 400 Euro fee will be issued to the participant.
Penalties or disqualification may be given for violations of rules, unsportsmanlike behavior, or if participants intentionally expose themselves or other participants to unnecessary risk. Penalties from organizers and officials can be additional race time or disqualification.
All athletes will sign the document «Release from Liability» when registering for Lofoten Ultra-Trail.
Due to the temperate waters of the Gulf Stream, Lofoten has a much milder climate than other parts of the world at the same latitude, such as Alaska and Greenland. The coastal climate in Lofoten makes the winters mild and the summers relatively cool. July and August are warmest with an average temperature of 12°C. Normal day temperatures in June vary from 12-18°C.
Note! The weather in Lofoten can be extremely changeable all year. Even though, good, warm weather is the forecast, wet and brisk intervals may occur. Be prepared!
The Arctic Triple has a strong focus on safety. The safety crew will be very well prepared for their mission and in close cooperation with local rescue teams.
If you withdraw from the race at any point, it is mandatory to inform the organizers. Please note that resources are limited so that transport back to Svolvær might take a while. We’ll make sure you are kept safe and warm during the wait, but please be patient while waiting for transport.
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