RED BULL RAGNAROK 2018 – more than 300 snow kiters from 27 nations return to Hardangervidda, Norway.
Red Bull Ragnarok returns this weekend for the eighth edition of the world’s longest and hardest snow kite race. And the 130-km long challenge on the mountain slopes in Norway’s greatest national park is more popular than ever, all 300 available spots were sold out in record time of 40 seconds – with 54 percent of the tickets sold to international kiters. This weekend will gather kiters from far away countries like Australia, Brazil, USA, Canada, South Africa, Russia, as well as a huge number of European kite enthusiasts.
Return of the champions
All of last year’s four winners are returning to defend their title as kings and queens of Ragnarok. Five-time world champion Steph Bridge from Great Britain will attempt to secure her fourth straight Ragnarok gold medal in the women’s ski category. Aija Ambrasa from Latvia goes for her second Ragnarok gold in the women’s snowboard category. German kiter Felix Kersten will look to copy his performances from 2015 and 2017 and take his third gold medal in the men’s ski category, but Kersten will face strong competition from Jonas Lengwiler of Switzerland. Lengwiler – originally a skier – started snowboarding just two months before last year’s Ragnarok and still managed to win. Now he is back on skis chasing his first ever gold in the ski category.
“It’s incredible. It’s a really tough race, it’s really long and has gusty wind. Every year is tougher. Next year I will start again and try to win with skis, that’s my goal, “ Lengwiler said after the 2017 edition of Red Bull Ragnarok.
Tough conditions
The 2017 edition was the hardest to date, only eight out of 350 kiters from 29 nations managed to finish all five laps of the 130-km long race. Equipped with kites, skis and snowboards the participants had to cope with winds of up to 23 m/s (small storm) and top speeds nearly reaching 100 km/h (62 mph).
This year’s Ragnarok has a three-day weather window, with first possible race start on Friday 6th at 11 pm CET, but the unpredictable weather of the Norwegian mountains may postpone the race to Saturday or even Sunday.
About Red Bull Ragnarok:
-Yearly snow kite race at Haugastøl, Hardangervidda, Norway
-2018 is the 9th edition (first held in 2010)
-The world’s hardest and biggest snow kite competition, hosting more than 300 kiters from 27 nations (NOR,GER,SWE,GBR,DEN,NED,SUI,USA,FRA,CAN,POL,IRL,AUT;BEL,CZE,FIN,RUS,ESP,ITA,AUS,GRE,LAT,LUX,UKR, BRA,LIT,NZL,PHI,RSA)
-The race course consists of a lap of up to 26 kilometers, and participants will have to complete five laps (up to 130 km) in 5 hours on either skis or snowboard.
-Four categories: Men’s ski & snowboard and Women’s ski & snowboard
-Only 8 out of 350 kiters managed to complete the race in 2017.
