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Lax Above the Arctic Circle? Of Course We're There!
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Lax Above the Arctic Circle? Of Course We’re There!

A small piece of lacrosse history was made a couple weekends ago, but you might not have heard about it. Actually, unless you’re a Scandinavian lacrosse type or really in the loop with the Euro scene, I’m sure it didn’t even show up on your radar.

The most northerly lacrosse games in history (as far as we can tell) took place in Tromso, Norway for the Norwegian Universities Student Games. Men’s and women’s university clubs from all over the country came together for a weekend tournament they’ve been hosting for several years. It’s the kind of place you would think to go to try dog sledding and sleeping in a snow cave to watch the Northern Lights.

We’re Going ALL the Way Up!

Tromso lies 350 km north of the Arctic Circle, or about 220 miles. That’s 1150 km from Oslo, 715 miles. We are talking way, way up there. You can’t drive there. We have some pictures from the plane ride in. It looks like a really incredible experience if you’re not used to it. I suppose if a 12-seater, twin-prop plane is your normal commute to work, then you see this kind of mind-blowing scenery all the time. Or you could get there with a long, cold boat ride. But you might also see some whales.

Lax Above the Arctic Circle? Of Course We're There!

I haven’t heard how most of the players traveled there. I am envious, regardless. You are really getting to the Ends of the Earth here. The beautiful ends.

Tromso is well north of Anchorage, Alaska.. by a lot. That’s the only other really far north place I can guess would be playing lacrosse of some kind. If you know of any others, send them my way. I’m curious to make sure we got the official record correct with the Guinness people.

Our Man on the Ground

I got all the information and pictures for this event from Sven Kaiser, Referee in Chief for Norge Lacrosse.

Originally from the Netherlands, Sven is a biologist in Bodø. When he isn’t coordinating all the officials for Norge Lacrosse, Sven is studying fish farming, and going through Polar Bear Protection and Freezing Water Capsize training. This summer he’ll be in the sun, on the field and on the beach, at the World Championships in Netanya, Israel. The exact opposite of Tromso.

Lax Above the Arctic Circle? Of Course We're There!

I was fortunate to work with Sven last weekend in Oslo for a European Lacrosse Federation sponsored Level 2 joint training for both men’s referees and women’s umpires. Sven and the Norge Lacrosse people are doing an excellent job recruiting and training new officials. Simple fact, players and teams don’t improve unless officials also improve. They have some very dedicated and competent new referees and umpires that are going to play a big role in continuing to grow the size and quality of the game in Norway.

Field Lacrosse in Norway… in February?

If you invited me to ref above the Arctic Circle at any time of the year, I would think you were crazy, and probably say no. Probably. Maybe. Alright sure why not. I’m easy to convince.

The secret is, there are some really impressive facilities. Full field lit domes. Huge fields. Gigantic. And they’re really comfortable inside, so they are able to put on some really nice events. Brian Witmer and I were lucky enough to be in Oslo the week before. To me, it felt like what it must be like to play inside the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, or some place equally epic like that. Norwegian Lacrosse is poised to do some great things because they can get out and play their games. Or get in and play their games, more like it.

Norway lacrosse Lax Above the Arctic Circle? Of Course We're There!

Plus Norwegians are a very sporty, fit people. They have a great group of athletes all over the country and a talented player pool to draw from, on both sides – men and women. The Norwegian players were absolutely flying around the field when we were in Oslo. Remember, these were gigantic fields we were playing on. Straight up, they love to run. It will be part of the National Team’s strategy this summer in Israel. Who doesn’t like to run and gun in the sun?

Because of the weather and the unique, stunning, amazing geography of Norway, travel becomes a major consideration for how Norge Lacrosse organizes their league structures. Games are concentrated in a few weekends where multiple teams come together so that expenses, travel, fields, and officials can all be coordinated. Nobody wants to, or is able to, travel all over Norway every other weekend for one game. Less travel, more games. Hosting multiple teams in one location is a strategy that more leagues could embrace.

Norge Lacrosse is making a lot of headway in growing and improving the game there by organizing quality events that get lots of games in. It’s a foolproof way that everyone can improve their skills and experience. Expect to see this model paying off in the next cycle of World Games and European Championships.

Book your tickets for next year if you want to see the Northern Lights and do some long-distance Nordic skiing… and maybe catch a lacrosse game or two. Start talking to the teams in Norway, or anywhere you want to travel, and you may be there the next time lacrosse history is made with games or tournaments in some far-off, exotic place.