The Norseman Xtreme Triathlon is a non-Ironman branded triathlon, point to point, race held in Norway annually. The distances are equivalent to those of an Ironman race with the swim starting from the loading bay of a car ferry, through the water of the Hardangerfjord to the local village, Eidfjord. At Eidfjord the competitors transition onto their bikes and then cycle through the mountains, the first of which is uphill (reaching 1200 m above sea level). After transition two (at Austbygdi, 190 m above sea level), the competitors then run of which the first (to Rjukan) are flat and following this they end up climbing the local mountain, Gaustatoppen, 1,880 m above sea level.
The race is "unsupported" so competitors need to have personal backup crews that follow them with cars to provide them with food and drink. The support crews also have to accompany their competitor up the final mountain climb due to the inherent dangers of being highly fatigued on a mountain. During this final mountain climb competitors are required to carry a backpack containing emergency food and clothing should the weather turn, whilst they are on the mountain.
Weather and water Weather conditions, strict health checks, and deadlines determine whether the race can be followed into the mountains and those who finish are given a black finisher's top and take on the name "Norsemen". Those that do not make the cut-off time but complete the distance on a lower alternative route are given a white finishers top.
The water temperature in Eidfjord is a challenge to the organizers. In 2011, the swim course was disturbed by a passing cruise ship, lowering the water temperature and requiring the swim to be moved further along the fjord. This change added 20 km to the bike course. In 2015, the water temperature was measured to 10 degrees Celsius. The safety team then decided to make the swim 1900 meters instead of 3800 meters. After the race, the safety crew decided to start the "Cold Water Research Project", which will continue for several years including one or more PhD degrees in progress. The studies are led by Jonny Hisdal and Jørgen Melau. Other than cold water studies, the group has also started studies on biomarkers, lung functions and heart function. In 2019, there was a research effort at Norseman, and the research group has published their first scientific papers.
Participants
The number of participants is limited to a certain number of competitors (290 for 2020; 250 are invited, from sponsors, media and the majority from a draw; around 40 from qualified XTRI World Tour races for the World Championship). Approximately 40% of the participants are from outside Norway; and about 15% are female. During the period 2003-2015, a total of 175 women and 1,852 men successfully finished the race. The average time to finish the race was around 15 hours, with no statistically significant difference in finishing times between men and women.
Norseman Xtreme Triathlon first took place in 2003 with 21 individuals at the start line. The race record (full swimming distance) is 09:09:57 by Jon Sæverås Breivold (Norway) in 2023 for men and 11:00:23 by Julia Skala (Germany) in 2025 for women.
Winners
Year Class Winner Club, Country Time Notes 2003 Men Christian Houge-Thiis Stavanger, 12:48:28 2004 Men Rune Høydahl Sande i Vestfold, 11:30:08 Women Trude Andersen Stavanger, 13:15:20 2005 Men Björn Andersson 10:30:09 Women Trude Andersen Stavanger, 12:21:31 2006 Men Ole Stougaard 10:49:57 Women Marie Veslestaul Høydalsmo I.L, 14:46:25 2007 Men Lars Petter Stormo Team Oslo Sportslager, 11:25:18 Women Emily Finanger Inside Triathlon, 13:01:00 2008 Men Øyvind Johannessen 11:08:10 Women Jenny Gowans 14:02:00 2009 Men Tom Remman 11:19:48 Women Susanne Buckenlei 13:21:48 2010 Men Henrik Oftedal 10:59:57 Women Susanne Buckenlei 13:13:03 2011 Men Tim DeBoom 11:18:52200 km bike Women Susanne Buckenlei 13:10:44200 km bike 2012 Men Henrik Oftedal 10:23:43 Women Annett Finger 12:17:04 2013 Men Markus Stierli 11:25:16 Women Inger Liv Bjerkreim Nilsen 12:43:14 2014 Men Allan Hovda 10:52:07 Women Line Foss 12:56:27 2015 Men Allan Hovda 09:43:37 half swimming distance Women Kristin Lie 11:50:48 half swimming distance 2016 Men Lars Petter Stormo 10:22:37 Women Kari Flottorp Lingsom 12:24:52 2017 Men Lars Christian Vold 09:52:10 Women Anne Nevin 12:04:18 2018 Men Allan Hovda 10:05:48 Women Mette Pettersen Moe 11:16:10 2019 Men Fedrik Linge Johnsen 10:47:55 Women Danne Boterenbrood 13:13:59 2021 Men Jon Sæverås Breivold 10:21:47 Women Julie Aspesletten 12:39:18 2022 Men Jon Sæverås Breivold 09:23:28 Women Eilidh Prise 11:47:49 2023 Men Jon Sæverås Breivold 09:09:57 Record Women Flora Colledge 11:20:10 2024 Men Sebastian Norberg 10:10:16Women Laura Zimmermann 11:30:39 2025 Men Kristian Grue 09:45:20Women Julia Skala 11:00:23 Record
Coordinates Start Transition 1 Transition 2 Finish
See also Xtreme triathlon
References
External links