| RUSSIALOPPET
As Loppet-movement has overflowed Russia or as, once having plunged in
Worldloppet, I became its captive forever.
Marathon ski movement has overflowed Russia (USSR) in t early 70s, the same
years, as the majority of the countries of the Central Europe. By an example of Swedish
Vasaloppet Race of MVTU (50 km, classics) in Moscow, then Prazdnik Severa Ski marathon in
Murmansk, the Super-marathon 70км in
Novosibirsk, Asia - Europe- Asia of 70 km in Miass
(Sverdlovsk region), the "Lygnja Rossii" in Moscow have appeared.
Tartu marathon was very popular in Soviet Union. In 80th even in my town of Dubna
located 100км from Moscow, out of 50
active skiers there were 10 racers traveled to Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
for taking part in that race. I was about 12-14 years old and remember stripes
on sleeves of the ski suits, allowing to take an exclusive place on start. At those years
everything was strict, the participant could get over for some years from distant thousand
to first start corridor.
Before "Perestroika" only Soviet National team members had an opportunity to
participate in competitions abroad. Most known of athletes, Ivan Garanin, won
Vasaloppet, participated in Marcialonga. Up to 1991 there was not any information in
Russia about association of marathons Worldloppet.
In 1991 Marcialonga became a "window" into Worldloppet for Russian amateurs
when two delegations "Dynamo" and the Moscow State University have arrived
to Italy.
I have got in hands Worldlopet Yearbook first time there. Since that moment we together
with Sergey Ignatov, my friend and colleague in Russialoppet, have got the purpose in a
life - to become a WL Master. And than it has twirled : 1992 Finland and Norway, 1993
Canada and USA, 1994 France, Sweden and Switzerland, 1995 Austria and Germany :.
Sergey has outstripped me for one year because of a cancellation of Dolomitenlauf in
1994. We were the first Russian skiers and visitors in the history of majority of WL
"villages" that has helped us to find familiar and friends among organizers of
races, to get access to invaluable experience and knowledge.
During this period, in the beginning of 90s, in Russia there was no "private"
commercial race, only "state" the Lygnja Rossii, the Prazdnik Severa, Europe -
Asia. These competitions have been well organized, but their spirit and atmosphere were
different from Worldloppet. And Sergey and I held apart from desire to show to our
compatriots the world of WL and to reach the charge which we received from WL races. We
were engaged in bringing groups of friends and athletes to races. And then we have decided
to make in Russia something beautiful and similar to WL-competition. In 1994 Sergey and I
initiated accordingly Christmas Race in Krasnogorsk and marathon Nikolov Perevoz in Dubna.
Push to a birth of Russialoppet idea became the magazine "Ski track" owned by
Boris Prokopyev, journalist and also editor of "Running and we" magazine.
In one of first issues of magazine Boris has published the calendar of all open amateur
races. Having noted marathons among the short races, I was stupefied- here is the
Cup of marathons! Got a paper and has made the Draft of Calendar and Rules: It was in
1996, and the first prize-giving has already taken place in 1998 in Murmansk.
So Russialoppet was born :
In 2008 there is a 10th anniversary of incorporating of the best marathons
of Russia into the common calendar. 8 from 16 Russialoppet members races are
included into the FIS calendar. There are about 35 thousand people taking
part every year on all distances, from 5 km up to 60 km, and those who finish
main distances get stamps in the Russialoppet passport. Russialoppet Cup is running
among masters (veterans). And Grand prix of Russialoppet is organized for elite by 6
races.
I am sure we managed to transfer to the Russian skiers that strong impression which
once Worldloppet has made.
Within the last 20 years Russia has been changed tremendously... We have now new aim
with our Russialoppet team-mates.Time came for Russia to enter into Worldloppet. Time came
for our foreign cross-country friends to take part in Russialoppet.
Georgy Kadykov
President of Russialoppet
WL Master 924
RL Master 186 |
