The Austurland Freeride Festival is an annual mountain skiing and snowboarding event headquartered in Eskifjörður, using Oddskarð ski area as its base. It was first held in 2020 and created by local enthusiasts: mountain guides and skiing pros who know these mountains well and could see the potential of a winter festival with a difference.
This year's festival has a different format than previous years, as it begins earlier, and longer guided tours are scheduled.
One three-day tour is scheduled, which is a tour to Vöðlavík with Rúnar Pétur. It starts on March 1st and ends on March 3rd. On this tour, we will go from the top lift of Oddsskarð ski area and skin to Vöðlavík, where we will stay for two nights exploring the area and having fun in the surrounding mountains. The tour ends with skiing from the top lift of Oddskarð down to Randulffs-sjóhús in Eskifjörður.
On Friday, March 3rd, there will be a one-day ski trip from Fjarðarheiði to Eskifjörður with Wildboys. This is fun but challenging hiking and skiing under the excellent guidance of Skúli Júl and Óskar Wild.
For participation in both of these tours, it's necessary to register with Sævar at Mjoeyri tel. +354 698 6980 or mjoeyri@mjoeyri.is
There will also be a fun general program throughout the weekend, where various events will take place, e.g. Ski cinema in Valhöll, Kvöldvaka (Aprés-Ski) at Randulffs-sjóhús and a party with FM Belfast.
The full program for the festival can be seen below
For further information and news about the festival, we recommend following Austurlandfreeride on Instagram and Facebook
Austurland Freeride PROGRAM 2023
Thursday March 2nd
- 16:00 – 20:00 Open in Oddsskarð ski area
- 20:00 Ski cinema in Valhöll. Showing ski film „seeking Asgard“, a documentary about ski culture and other things in Iceland, including for instance an interview with Sævar Guðjónsson from Mjóeyri
Friday March 3rd
- 13:00 – 20:00 Open in Oddsskarð
- 18:00 Ride down to Randulffs-sjóhús, leaving from Oddsskarð. Meeting by the ski hug. Route chosen based on weather and conditions. Trip leader Sævar Guðjónsson, phone: +354 698 6980
- 19:00 – 22:00 Kvöldvaka (Aprés-Ski) in and around Randulffs-sjóhús in Eskifjörður. Dj Anton Aus Tirol is taking care of the beats. Kitchen open at Randulffs-sjóhús during the aprés ski, offering meal of the day. Party master Valgeir Ægir Ingólfsson. Fjallakofinn, Wildness, and Advanced Shelter presenting ski and snowboard gear. Beljandi brewery will be offering beer tasting and dry fish samples.
- 22:00 – 03:00 Tindurinn, bar open.
Saturday March 4th
- 9:30 Tindurinn – touring to a mountain peak nearby. Exact location decided by mountain guides closer to the trip based on weather and conditions. Meeting at Mjóeyri at 9am to take a bus. Guides: Skúli Júlíusson and Óskar Wild Ingólfsson. Essential to sign up by contacting Skúli Júlíusson by phone +354 864 7393, or by email wildboys@wildboys.is. Price 15.000 ISK (25.000 ISK for both days, Tindurinn and Two mountain passes). To be paid by the start of the trip.
- 10:00 Extreme backcountry ski tour and splitboard trip in the mountains around Oddsskarð. Meeting at 9:30 at Mjóeyri to take a bus. Guide is Rúnar Pétur. Essential to sign up by contacting Rúnar Pétur by phone +354 822 8211, or by email runarpeturh@gmail.com. Price 15.000 ISK (25.000 ISK for both days). To be paid by the start of the trip.
- 10:00 – 16:00 Open in Oddsskarð ski area. FM belfast DJ set playing at the resort at approx. 2pm. Fjallakofinn and Advanced Shelter presenting their ski and snowboard gear.
- 16:00 – 20:00 Kvöldvaka (Aprés-Ski) at Randulffs-sjóhús. FM Belfast DJ set is playing and warming up for the party at Valhöll
- 18:00 – 20:00 Kitchen open for meal of the day at Randulffs-sjóhús
- 21:00 – 01:00 Valhöll – Party with FM Belfast DJ set. House opens at 8pm
Sunday March 5th
- 9:30 Two mountain passes, a ski tour near Mjóeyri. Exact location decided by mountain guides closer to the trip based on weather and conditions. Meeting at Mjóeyri at 9am to take a bus. Guides: Skúli Júlíusson and Óskar Wild Ingólfsson. Essential to sign up by contacting Skúli Júlíusson by phone +354 864 7393, or by email wildboys@wildboys.is. Price 15.000 ISK (25.000 for both days, Tindurinn and Two mountain passes). To be paid by the start of the trip.
- 10:00 Extreme backcountry ski tour and splitboard trip in the mountains around Oddsskarð, for instance hiking up Svartafjall. Meeting at 9:30am at Mjóeyri to take a bus. Guide is Rúnar Pétur. Essential to sign up by contacting Rúnar Pétur by phone +354 822 8211, or by email runarpeturh@gmail.com. Price 15.000 ISK (25.000 ISK for both days). To be paid by the start of the trip.
- 10:00 – 16:00 Open in Oddsskarð ski area
More information available by phone +354 698 6980 or by email mjoeyri@mjoeyri.is
Experienced mountain guides, Jón Gauti from Fjallaskóli and Sævar Guðjónsson from Mjóeyri will be available to help people with choosing routes based on conditions, etc.
Mountain guides Skúli Júlíusson and Rúnar Pétur Hjörleifsson will take care of backcountry ski and snowboard trips.
Fjallakofinn and Advanced Shelter will be presenting their ski and snowboard gear all day in Oddsskarð on Satyrday, and at the aprés ski event in the evening at Randulffs-sjóhús, where Wildness will also be with their products.
Everyone welcome at all events, but it´s neccessary to sign up for all trips!!
Everyone participating at the festival is at their own risk.
