Although the Tartu–Kääriku ski hike was neither the first nor a unique event of its kind, it was this outing that gained public attention and laid the foundation for the continuity of local ski marathons.
 

The winter of 1960 arrived early — skiing was already possible in November. Public interest in winter sports was high, and skiing through the city became so popular that in December the city authorities were forced to issue a regulation specifying which streets could be used for skiing, sledging and skating — and which could not. Violators faced fines ranging from 5 to 100 roubles, depending on the rank of the official issuing the penalty.

On the morning of the marathon day at 9:30 a.m., the male recreational skiers were the first to set off across the ice of the Emajõgi River, facing a 55-kilometre journey to Kääriku. After the men’s start, the women were taken 11 kilometres out of the city to the Võru–Otepää crossroads (today’s Roiu junction) by bus, where 36 women began their ski hike at 10:30 a.m.

Unlike today’s equal treatment, at that time the longest permitted competitive distance for women was just 10 kilometres, making participation in the full ski tour officially out of the question. Despite coaches’ instructions to maintain a hiking pace, competition quickly emerged within the group, and for some of the brave women the ski hike turned into a race.

At 11:00 a.m., the 31 male competitors also started, among them all the best skiers in the republic.

Of the 214 participants who set off from Tartu, 210 reached Kääriku, while two finished in Otepää. The starting signal for future marathons had been given, and the organisers now had valuable experience — and lessons learned from early mistakes. The event was wished a long life, with hopes that the Tartu–Kääriku ski tour would grow into a tradition bringing ever more people together through sport.