Sailcloth, bamboo poles and ropes are carefully lifted. It's fragile. The start and finish of the first femmila was at Majorstua, at what is now Sørkedalsveien 1. Here you will find a cultural-historical blue sign that tells the story of the femmila's birthplace.
Skiforeningen arranges a five-mile race
Initially, there was skepticism about cross-country skiing competitions and long races. Nevertheless, the Ski Association was convinced that a five-mile race should be organized. The runners themselves had expressed that they wanted to run longer races than the previous races of up to 12 km. An advertisement was therefore placed in Norsk Idrætsblad just over a year before the race, so that potential participants would have time to prepare for the 50 km test of strength.
Nutrition: Tobacco and alcohol
Torjus Hemmestveit from Morgedal won the first five-mile race. The prize was a staggering NOK 400. This could be equivalent to a year's salary for some of the participants.
Hemmestveit and the other skiers skied a 2 x 25 km course that took in Bogstadvannet, Besserudtjernet, Vettakollen and Skøyen. The knowledge and theories about how to behave in order to perform as well as possible were different from today. For example, you didn't warm up, but saved your energy. Tobacco was supposed to "open the lungs" before the race and many believed that alcohol was good for regaining your strength when you reached the finish line.
132 years in Holmenkollen
The Husebyrennet long-distance race was eventually moved to Holmenkollen, where there was more snow, easier access and a restaurant.
On Saturday, February 7, 1891, the first long-distance race was held from Besserudtjernet, with the start and finish at Peisestuen. The race was 15 km long, with 48 registered participants. The winner was Nils Kamphaug in a time of 1.09.35. Quite an achievement in the tougher trails and ski equipment of the time.
The following year, the ski jumping race was also moved to Holmenkollen and the Holmenkollen races were established. This established Holmenkollen as a mecca for skiing, a status the facility can still boast over 130 years later.
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