Anders Aukland: Tartu Maraton track is in a class with Vasaloppet, and the Estonian audience similar to Holmenkollen
Norwegian cross-country legend Anders Aukland says that Tartu Maraton is a very special race for him: “I love the track! It is one of the best long distance tracks I know. Vasaloppet is a big race where you have 6 to 8 tracks beside each other, well groomed. Tartu Maraton is like that, very professionally prepared.“
Anders Aukland in Tartu Maraton 2022. Photo: Tartu Maraton/Ski Classics
“From the race I also remember the first time arriving at the finish. It was so many people there in the forest, food and drinks, the great award ceremony. A very special atmosphere!” says the two-time winner of Tartu Maraton. He felt that Estonia is a true skiing country already when he came here for the first time to compete in Otepää World Cup. “The enthusiasm of the Estonian audience surprised me the most. It is the same atmosphere about the skiing we have in Holmenkollen,” he tells.
He also has a funny story to share: “The first year we were here, we had some help from a service guy, who was a rally-cross driver. It is always difficult to serve the drink stations, but being a really good driver, he managed to be everywhere.”
Anders Aukland won Tartu Maraton in 2009 and 2010. Until 2023, he was active at the professional level participating in the Ski Classics series. Presently, he is mentoring and coaching the professional skiers in the Norwegian Pro Team Radge Charge.
His brother, Jørgen Aukland, took the victory in Tartu in 2003. The Aukland brothers have a total of 13 Tartu Maraton participations, with Jørgen 7 times and Anders 6 times in the start, most recently in 2022.
See the video story with Anders Aukland HERE.