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Race manualLofoten Ultra-Trail // 12 km
Svolvær → Svolvær · the mini-ultra over Tjeldbergtinden.
Welcome
The mini-ultra: 12 km from Svolvær square, over the town mountain, and back to the square. A good first trail race, and it still earns you a Lofoten summit.
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. Hundreds of support cars on narrow island roads simply doesn't fit that picture, so the organizers provide all support. The roads stay less crowded and safer for athletes and crew.
The route is marked to make the experience safer and better, and we actively avoid producing items that would end up as trash or at the back of a closet.
We are lucky to race in the wild nature of the Lofoten Islands. For that to continue, we take care of it: 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
- 12 km with about 500 m of positive ascent
- Start and finish on Svolvær town square
- Maximum time 6 hours · age limit 11 years
- One service point at Kongsmarka (6 km)
- The route is marked from start to finish
- 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.
- 1 Finish line · Svolvær torg Where every race ends. Ceremonies on the square. ↗
- 2 Transition zone T1 / T2 Triathlon bike check-in and both transitions, on the square. ↗
- 3 Swim start · Svolvær harbour Water start; the full swim course is drawn on the map. ↗
- 4 RETUR · registration and start kits Torget 14. Bib pick-up, gear check and cups for sale. ↗
- 5 Event hotel · race briefings Thon Hotel Lofoten. Briefings, early breakfast, athlete rate. ↗
- 6 Race buses · Svolvær sentrum Race-day transport leaves from the stop just south of the hotel. ↗
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
- Drink and food station
- First aid and evacuation transport
- Timing
- Warm meal after the finish
- Finisher shirt
Recommended equipment
No mandatory gear on the 12 km, but the arctic is still the arctic. We recommend carrying or wearing:
- Hat and gloves
- Wind- and water-repellent jacket and pants
- Long-sleeve base layer (top and bottom)
- Whistle
- Fully charged cell phone for emergency calls
Service point
| Point | Km | Place |
|---|---|---|
| SP 1 | 6 | Kongsmarka |
Drink: unlimited water and sports drink. Hot coffee and tea at the larger stations.
Food: The Arctic Triple bun, chips, nuts, fruit and pre-made sandwiches. Warm soup with vegetables/pasta at the larger stations.
Also: warm blankets and a basic medical kit at every point.
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.
Route may change with weather and safety conditions. The GPX published before race week is final.
Course description
From Svolvær square, 3 km of tarmac lead to a gravel road with a right turn at the power station. Continue to the end of the lake, then turn left towards the mountain Tjeldbergtinden, 367 m above the sea, with an epic view over Lofoten. Over the top, down the gravel road on the far side, back to the main road, through the tunnel, right at the harbour, then along the quay to the finish line where you started. Congratulations.
The 12 km shares its final kilometres with the 24 km, 50 Miles and 100 Miles, so cheer on the long-distance runners as they come through. The course is marked from start to finish; some sections are moderately technical and may hold snow early in the season.
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
General
Rules are kept to a minimum. Use common sense, and act if another athlete needs help.
Age & classes
Age limit 11 years. Two classes: women and men.
License
A national license is required; a day license can be purchased at registration. Foreign athletes use their own license or sign a release-of-liability form.
Time chip
Wear the time chip on your right ankle for the whole race (EUR 50 fee if lost).
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:
| Award | Combination |
|---|---|
| Gold | Skimo 4000+ · Ultra-Trail 100 Miles · Triathlon Extreme |
| Silver | Skimo 4000+ · Ultra-Trail 50 Miles · Triathlon Extreme |
| Bronze | Any other combination of the three races, as long as the Ultra-Trail distance is 24 km or longer (the 12 km does not qualify) |
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: 20 May 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 is far milder than Alaska or Greenland at the same latitude. Normal day temperatures in late May and June are 12–18 °C.
Safety
The Arctic Triple has a strong safety focus. Our safety crew is well prepared and works closely with the local rescue teams.
Withdrawal
If you withdraw at any point, informing the organizers is mandatory. Transport back to Svolvær may take a while, but we will keep you safe and warm while you wait.
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.