– I see that the best Birkensacks today are similar to ours. It is the same principle, says cross-country veteran Anders Aukland to news. In the news-broadcast Birkebeinerrennet, everyone must walk with a bag that must weigh a minimum of 3.5 kilos the whole way. Several major sports brands have made business out of it. The topic first came up in the podcast Skiklubben, where Emil Gukild says that he has gone to purchase a bag that is tailored for Birken. The news profile will not reveal the price tag, but: – It is expensive, he notes. Then Aukland replies that a sack does not necessarily need to be particularly expensive. He and Tord Asle Gjerdalen have gone with a homemade version for almost ten years. “We will sew a sack” In the podcast, Aukland, who has won the race several times, says that a good sack for Birken is small, dense and light. – They take little wind when you drive at high speed. You have just the space for what you need, and you place much of the weight on your hips, instead of on your shoulders. – There were not many special bags six, seven, eight years ago, notes Aukland. INNOVATIVE: Tord Asle Gjerdalen in familiar style. According to Aukland, he should have credit for the bag “everyone” uses in Birken. Photo: NTB The 51-year-old reveals that the story of the home-made bag started before the Birkebeinerrennen in 2015. It was Tord Asle Gjerdalen who had the idea and he set Aukland and himself in motion during the rally on Sjusjøen. – I come up to the cabin where we live. There is Tord Asle, who was a teammate of mine at the time. He says: “We’re going to sew a sack”, Aukland said and continued: – OK, I think. I had a bag I thought was pretty good. But then we start with an old pair of tights, which we cut in half and take a quarter of our leg. TIGHTS AND VELCRO: The bag is simple, but “fantastic” according to the two tailors. Photo: Anders Aukland And with tights, Velcro, lead and straps they sew together the “super bag”. – It is the prototype of the one you have bought now. They have only copied Tord Asle’s bag, says Aukland to Gukild. Birken will be broadcast on news TV and news Sport from 07.40 on Saturday. Winnar bag Because the bag turns out to bring luck and happiness: – Tord and I go with it, and it goes well. The bag was fantastic. We got help to sew up five to six more bags. So now there are seven home teams, says Aukland. The home-made bag has not only brought success to the creators. – Andreas Nygaard has won Birken three times. He has actually won with the home-made bag, which I helped sew, every time. He will probably join him at Birken this year too, says the Tønsberg man. Here Nygaard takes his third Birken victory. Do you see the bag? Develops own equipment The brain behind the bag, Tord Asle Gjerdalen, tells news that he has been looking for improvement potential in the equipment he uses throughout his career. He claims he is also behind the prototype of a drinking belt that many elite runners use today. INVENTIVE: This drinking belt is just one of many inventions from Tord Asle Gjerdalen. Photo: Private – I would guess that all (the producers) who deal with this sort of thing look at what we use and hunt further to find their solutions to it. When it comes to the commercial, you have to weigh up benefit vs. cost. The things that are sold must be slightly different from what the elite use. We like to have slightly different finesse and so on, says Gjerdalen. He never tried to patent the bag or the drinking belt. – You don’t know that you have missed out on many millions? – No, I would rather say that I have practiced. I have practiced several ideas both when it comes to poles, drinking belt and bag. I also have several things that were not successful, but which can hopefully be further developed to become a success in due course, he replies. On Saturday, both Gjerdalen and Aukland will compete in the Birkebeinerrennet on news – each with their home team’s bag.
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Anders Aukland and Tord Asle Gjerdalen have sewn their own “super bag” – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
