Established in 1935, Fossavatn Ski Marathon is Iceland’s oldest ski race and in fact one of the country’s longest running sport events. It always takes place the last weekend of April or the first weekend of May.

The main race is the 50 km competition. Also offered are 20 km and 10 km races, plus a 7 km track which is very popular amongst beginners and children down to the age of 5-6 years. The venue is just outside the town of Ísafjörður, in the North-West corner of Iceland. The natural settings in the mountains around Ísafjörður are ideal for cross-country skiing. The track is set in a beautiful landscape with cliffs and rocks on one hand, and valleys and fjords on the other. The mountains are rich of snow, even in the relatively warm winters we have experienced in recent years. It is due to this blessing that the race has never had to be cancelled due to lack of snow.

When it comes to skiing, no Icelandic town has a richer history and tradition than Ísafjörður. The sport has always been a natural part of the inhabitants’ past time activities and this small town is proud to have produced no less than 17 Olympic skiers, plus countless national champions. In Fossavatn Ski Marathon, a high quality organization meets the local small-town hospitality and joyful festivity atmosphere, where the organizers and inhabitants alike do their best to make every visitor feel welcome and special, and ensure that everyone leaves with fond memories of the event and its host society.

For more details, please see www.fossavatn.com