Tartu Ski Marathon on Schedule Despite -20 Celsius
After fears that the 40th Tartu skiing marathon may be canceled if the temperature falls below -25 Celsius, organizer Indrek Kelk announced that the competition will go on as planned on February 20.
An international rule for long-distance skiing says that competitions must be postponed or canceled if temperatures reach -25 Celsius.
"Despite a thick coat of snow, we now have a new worry, and we need to very intently keep track of weather forecasts, which are promising quite crispy freezing degrees for the coming week," Kelk had told ERR radio before it was announced that the event would not be canceled.
After considering various weather forecasts, which are currently predicting -20 for the coming weekend, organizers decided on February 17 that the race will take place as planned, although start times may still be changed to allow the weather to warm up a bit.
To stay warm in temperatures akin to Siberian, organizers are telling competitors to dress in at least three layers of clothes. Other tricks include taping up the nose and cheeks, and wearing trash bags to preserve body heat and stop the wind without weighing down the athlete with clumsy or heavy clothing.
Eastern Europe's largest ski marathon and the world's fifth biggest classical marathon, has registered 8,187 competitors from 31 countries this year. The February 20 competition is part of the FIS Marathon Cup, as well as the Worldloppet series.