Femmila

The world’s first 50 km cross-country skiing race was held on February 7, 1888. Several of the runners waiting at the starting line in Holmenkollen had smoked pipes to enhance their lung capacity. The winner, Torjus Hemmestveit, was rewarded with 400 kroners worth of gold.

Capacities such as Matti Koskenkorva, Thomas Wassberg, Thorleif Haug and Petter Northug Jr. have a natural place in the history of the 50 km race. But the race is just as much about industrious labourers who worked as lumberjacks when they weren’t competing on skis. Where others only saw deep snow and impossible conditions, they saw a way to make a living, and they would cross hundreds of kilometres of winter terrain in order to enter the races and win a fortune.

Success depended on more than mere athletic skills. The Swedes believed in three metre skis, the Finnish imagined loose bindings were the key, the Norwegian competitors preferred hilly terrain. Some carried herring in their inner pockets, ready to spread under the skis if conditions got slippery, while others opted for fox grease, cream and honey.

"50 km without stopping ... I have browsed, I have read, I have chuckled and laughed my way through 543 pages ... Gotaas writes as he speaks; enthusiastically, humorously and extremely well ... " Rune Hagen, Østlendingen

" ... one of this year's winners." Geir Vestad, Hamar Arbeiderblad