NORDIC EVENTS
WHAT NORDIC EVENTS TAKE PLACE ARoUND ENGLAND?
English nordic clubs have a regular calendar of training, tuition and social events throughout the year. The most frequent and popular activity is roller skiing, where events include: skills coaching sessions, tours, fun challenges and inter-club championship races.
There is also the opportunity for on-snow skiing abroad with clubs arranging regular trips to mainland Europe. The Snowsport England Nordic Committee also arranges a successful on-snow skills development week, which will take place in Geilo, Norway in 2027. Email us to find out more about this trip.
England’s nordic ski clubs will plan skiing in the UK whenever there’s snow, however variable winter conditions mean these are often arranged at short notice and are likely to be informal. Some clubs also organise activities on indoor snow slopes and on dry slopes for learning and refining cross-country and telemark technique.
All clubs will be able to advise you and discuss the type of nordic skiing which appeals to you most and, for events in England, will supply you with equipment. Find your local club using our Snowsports Finder.
ROLLER SKI RACING
Roller ski races in England vary from club races up to the more serious British Championships. There are two series of fun events, aimed at everyone, in England: the Northern Roll, based in the north of England, and the Southern Roll Series, based in west London. Scotland has its own race series, and the British Biathlon Union has a series of its own with events throughout the UK.
The British Championships comprise two different events: the British Distance Championship held over two days in Fife, Scotland in July, and the British Sprint Championship held in East London in October. There is a further British Championship for biathlon held in conjunction with the Sprint event in October.
ON-SNOW RACING
There are hundreds of on-snow nordic races through the winter - and into the summer for those willing to travel to Australia, New Zealand or Argentina.
The main group of races popular amongst British skier are grouped into the World Loppet Series or the slightly lower-level Euro Loppet Series. These are mass-participation races attracting many thousands of racers from beginners up to expert competitors. Distances typically range from 40 km to 90 km.
Two particularly popular races are the Engadin Skimarathon (42 km) and the Vasaloppet (90 km). If you’re interested in attending one of these events, speak to your local club; many people will have attended these events and be happy to advise.
If you are interested in something a little more serious and you are aged 30+, you could consider the annual Masters World Championships, which involves three races over a one-week period each winter.