Kevin Ramsfjell Completes 'Everesting' on Rollerski Treadmill

– When I know how painful it is, I don't want to do it again.

This is what a groggy Kevin Ramsfjell told NRK after completing an extreme training session. He feels almost hungover due to the strain his body has endured; muscles aching as his body works overtime to recover from the exertion.

On Sunday morning, he started a training session on the treadmill that was far from ordinary.

Inside what resembles a lab, he began a journey meant to last over 12 hours. The goal? To reach the height of the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, at 8,849 meters.

Adrian Brekken Ramsfjell/Privat

In the world of sports, this is known as "everesting." It essentially means ascending the mythical mountain in terms of elevation gain. No one has attempted this on roller skis before Ramsfjell started the eternal climb in Lillehammer.

– Every hour and quarter-minute feels like it goes so slowly. You just have to be tough on yourself, says Ramsfjell.

Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen first reported on the special training session.

The Toughest is the Mental

From the moment Ramsfjell started at 7 AM Sunday until he "conquered" the summit, it took over 12 hours. In other words, half a day on a treadmill — and all of it without entertainment like a screen.

When 8,849 meters were reached and the 'everesting' attempt was over, Ramsfjell looked almost untouched.

But even though sweat didn’t flow much at that moment, the challenge had cost him.

– The toughest part is the mental aspect because it’s so monotonous, and you never get a break. It's hard regardless of the form of movement, but skating and paddling make it extremely tough.

National Team Praise

This tough Sunday excursion has left its mark on Norwegian sports. Many have found inspiration in this challenge, including two world-class biathletes.

"Hats off to you," writes Vebjørn Sørum on Ramsfjell’s Instagram post published after the trial.

Sørum is part of the national junior biathlon team and is no stranger to long or hard workouts. However, this Sunday’s trip left him impressed.

– First and foremost, this is insane. To just decide to do something like this is crazy, and to complete it is just awesome. We do many tough and extreme trips and push ourselves in our way on the junior team, but this is something entirely different, says Sørum.

– It's extremely long; let’s put it that way. He shows incredible endurance. If he channeled that into something meaningful in elite sports, he would become a serious threat in the final races, says national team biathlete Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen about Ramsfjell.

WORLD CUP PRAISE: Kevin Ramsfjell receives praise from 50% of this Norwegian team that won the relay at the World Cup in Östersund in 2023. From left: Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, Vebjørn Sørum, and Endre Strømsheim.

Photo: Anders Wiklund / TT/NTB

Wanting to See How Far One Can Go

Neither Sørum nor Christiansen, who are at the top of the international biathlon scene, could have envisioned completing such an effort.

Ramsfjell describes the mental challenge as the greatest. The lack of variation means he cannot describe the stunt as anything but extreme.

– One wants to see how far one can go. It's cool to do things that haven’t been done before, Ramsfjell explains.

UNDERWAY: This was Kevin Ramsfjell's view during the 12 hours on the rollerski treadmill.

Photo: Adrian Brekken Ramsfjell / Privat

He is no stranger to what can be described as otherworldly performances. In the past, he set a national record for crossing Norway on roller skis and also ran from Bergen to Oslo with only four hours of sleep.

Now he plans to spend a few days on the couch before new challenges await. He hinted to NRK:

– I usually never do the same project again. Now that I know how painful this is, I don’t want to do it again. I could do the challenge on a bicycle instead. If I do it on a bike, I’ve kind of done all three: running, roller skiing, and cycling.

Published 04.11.2024, at 20:27