Lofoten Skimo // 4000+

Welcome

In the unique surroundings of the Lofoten Islands we offer you an amazing race: The Arctic Triple Lofoten Skimo. The organizers provide all support; no external support is accepted.

Back to nature

The Arctic Triple has a strong environmental focus. We want to organize the most environmentally friendly races in the world. The course is marked with removable flags so the mountains stay as natural and untouched as possible, both during the race and after. We also avoid producing items that would end up as trash or at the back of a closet.

Throwing trash anywhere along the course is strictly forbidden. Use the bins at the service points, and nowhere else.

Leave nothing but a "thank you" behind.

Summary

• 32 km from Morfjorden to Svolvær · 4 000 m of gain and loss
• Age limit 18 years · classes: women and men
• Start Saturday 09:00, and transport to the start can be booked at registration
• No external support. Only The Arctic Triple crew supports you
• Checkpoints at Laupstad, Vestpolleidet and the Red Cross Center/Stranda
• Cut-offs: Laupstad 4 h · Vestpolleidet 8 h · maximum time 12 hours
• Mandatory ISMF equipment, see the full list below
• Every finisher earns the finisher shirt

Event venue in Svolvær

Everything centres on the harbour in Svolvær: registration and start kits at RETUR, briefings at Thon Hotel Lofoten, and the start/finish on the town square.

Tap a location in the list to zoom to it. Start, finish, transition zone and the swim course are plotted from the official race GPX; the square outline, hotel and bus stop from OpenStreetMap.

What's included

• Start kit and The Arctic Triple buff
• Early breakfast for athletes staying at the event hotel
• Time tracking and live GPS tracking
• First aid and evacuation transport
• Drink and food stations
• Warm meal after the finish, with a Lofoten fish burger at the finish line
• Finisher shirt

Course map & GPX

Explore the course on the live map. Drag, zoom, and slide along the elevation profile to see exactly where every climb hits. Numbers are measured from the official GPX track.

Course & marking

Start: Morfjorden, Austvågøy · Finish: Svolvær · Distance: 32 km · Gain/loss: 4 000 m

The complete track is marked with flags in accordance with international regulations and must be followed at all times:

▲ Green flags going up · ▼ Pink flags going down

Every athlete is responsible for studying the entire route in detail. A detailed map and GPX file are available for download before the race.

Mandatory equipment (ISMF)

• Identification (driver's license or similar)
• Skis: min. 60 mm at the waist, 80 mm at the tip, 70 mm at the tail, steel edges on 90% of the length; min. length 160 cm (men) / 150 cm (women); bindings with free heel for climbing, lockable for descent, with lateral and frontal release
• Climbing skins: 1 pair on the skis, plus 1 spare pair in the backpack (4000+ only)
• Boots covering the ankles, Vibram sole, two tightening devices, crampon-compatible; lug depth min. 4 mm over 75% of the sole
• Backpack with two straps for carrying skis
• Poles: max. 25 mm diameter, plastic baskets (metal baskets not allowed)
• Survival blanket, min. 1.80 m², unmodified
• 1 litre of water in a bottle or drinking system
• Upper body: min. 3 long-sleeve layers that fit, one windproof (a 4th warm layer may be required depending on the forecast)
• Lower body: min. 2 full-length layers that fit, one windproof
• Goggles or sunglasses, gloves, ski hat, whistle, and a working headlamp
• Avalanche transceiver worn on the body, 457 kHz (EN 300718, UIAA/CE)
• Snow shovel, unmodified, min. 20 × 20 cm (ISMF)
• Crampons: min. 10 spikes, two at the front, with safety straps (UIAA 153)
• Probe: 2.4 m length, 10 mm diameter
• Ski mountaineering helmet (UIAA 106 / EN 1077), mandatory for the whole race

See our infographic on how to gear up for Lofoten Skimo.

Checkpoints & stations

Register at every checkpoint to continue the race. It is a quick tick-off so we know you are good to go. There is also personnel along the track you can contact in an emergency.

Maximum time to complete Lofoten Skimo 4000+: 12 hours.

Food & drink stations

Laupstad · Vestpolleidet · Red Cross Center/Stranda · finish line, Svolvær.
Drink: water and sports drink, coffee at Vestpolleidet. Food: The Arctic Triple bun, chips, nuts and bananas. Hot soup at Vestpolleidet, Lofoten fish burger at the finish.

Race support

Race language: English

English is the official race language. All briefings, course markings, manuals and safety instructions are given in English, and our crew must be able to communicate with you quickly and clearly, especially in an emergency in the mountains or on the water.

• Every athlete must fully understand and speak English to start the race
• By registering, you confirm that you meet this requirement

Rules (ISMF)

General

The race is organized in agreement with ISMF regulations, and rules in this manual are kept to a minimum. Use common sense, and act if another athlete needs emergency assistance.

Identity & license

Present a valid photo ID and a valid competition license from your national federation at registration. Athletes without a license sign a release-of-liability form; Norwegian athletes can buy a day license at registration.

Numbers & helmet

Helmet and both race numbers are mandatory throughout: one number on the backpack, one on the upper right thigh. Athletes are checked (numbers and transceiver) at the entrance to the start area.

Time chip & GPS tracker

Wear the time chip on your right ankle, pointing outwards, and the GPS tracker at all times.

Medical & anti-doping

The medical crew may remove a competitor from the race at any time if their health is at risk. Anti-Doping Norway may perform random tests.

Penalties

• Missing objects at gear control
• Race numbers not worn correctly
• Outside assistance during competition
• Abandoning equipment or dropping trash
• Not carrying your own backpack

Penalties range from 30 seconds to disqualification. Disqualification follows from starting early, skipping a checkpoint check-in, reckless behavior, or missing/non-conforming safety equipment. Broken gear may only be exchanged at a checkpoint with the chief controller's permission.

Program changes

The organizers may alter the program at any time for safety reasons. If all or part of the race is cancelled, entry fees are not refunded.

Anti-doping

The Arctic Triple stands for clean sport. All our races are organized under the anti-doping regulations of Anti-Doping Norway (Antidoping Norge) and the WADA code.

• By registering, you consent to our anti-doping policy, and consent is gathered as part of the registration process
• The use of prohibited substances or methods is strictly forbidden, in and out of competition
• Random doping tests by Anti-Doping Norway may occur at any time: before, during or after the race

Do the whole Triple?

Many athletes aim to complete all three races. To get an official Triple result you must complete all three individually within 12 months:

Triple finishers are awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze jacket by our main partner Klättermusen, plus a spot on the Lofoten Wall of Fame.

You can sign up for all three at once: at register.thearctictriple.no, tick The Triple and choose your distances, and you get 10% off the standard prices.

Cancellation & transfers

The entry fee is non-refundable, regardless of the reason for cancellation.

You can transfer your entry to another athlete until 14 days before the first race day. Log in at register.thearctictriple.no and start the transfer from your registration. The transfer fee is NOK 150.

Last day to transfer for the 2027 edition: 5 March 2027.

Entries bought with a discount code that does not allow transfer cannot be transferred. If an earlier deadline is set for an edition, the registration system shows it, and that deadline applies.

Norwegian law (LOV-2007-06-29-86) prohibits selling tickets to cultural and sporting events at a higher price than the original.

Weather & safety

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Lofoten's winters are mild for the latitude. Expected air temperature on race day: −5 to +3 °C.

Safety

Our safety crew works closely with the local rescue teams, and there is personnel along the whole track. The mandatory pre-race briefing, including ID and equipment check, is held the day before the race.

Withdrawal

If you withdraw at any point, informing the organizers as soon as possible is mandatory.

Travel & stay

Flights, boats, buses and beds. Everything is gathered on our Travel & stay page: four airports, the express boat, the Hurtigruten coastal ferry, and where to sleep by the harbour.

Open Travel & stay →