From Norway to Gargano, the Bernt Bjørnsgaard return

From Norway to Gargano, the Bernt Bjørnsgaard return

The orienteering champ Bernt Bjørnsgaard is officially the WMOC 2022 International Ambassador.

Bernt is one of the stronger orienteers in Norway around years 2000: World Champion in relay 1999, silver medal in relay in Tampere 2001, 4 times winner of Jukola and 4 times of Tiomila. At the top of the PWT World Series ranking, it’s also thanks to Bernt if orienteers with be able to run and enjoy Foresta Umbra. In the early 2000 Bernt with Gabriele Viale and Jorgen Martensson found a real paradise for orienteering and decided to make an international orienteering map.

Bernt, your Italian friends are happy to hear from you again and it’s great to see you WMOC 2022 ambassador. What do you tell us about your post-sport career?

“Sadly I can’t say I’m running much orienteering right now, but I might take up the sport again to this summer 2022. But, I do have a lot of contacts through the friendship of orienteering. The last three years, I have been the chairman of the board of Stolpejakten. A fantastic concept activity for everyone, where you find “post” / controls with an app. 250.000 Norwegians take part in this activity through the last year. Now I’m working as a digital business developer for a building construction company in Lillehammer, called Gausdal Landhandleri. I’m looking forward to meet many old friends and competitors from old time in WMOC. Italy is my second home, together with good relation and friendship”.   

 

What do you remember of the 2001 exploration adventure in southern Italy?

“I never forget the days back in Italy 2001. This was a great opportunity for me to explore Italy and the huge potential of orienteering in Italy. Let me tell the stories from my diary a bit later, from day to day. These days in 2001 was the start of lifelong friendship, good relationships and good concepts with Follow the Sun”.

 

What about Gargano and Foresta Umbra? You’ve been training in the area in 2003, with Norvegian team and then in 2004? We also remember a training section on the athletics track in Sannicandro Garganico, your coach at the time was Anders Gârderud, Olympic champion of the 3.000 steeplechase in 1976.

“Gargano and Foresta Umbra are very special places in Italy. This green peninsula in east part of Italy invite the runners into a wild open terrain with a mix of good runnability.  Here you can run along sandy beaches or run into deep green forests over 1000 meters above sea level. I have been in Gargano actually three times. First time with orienteering exploring tours with Gabriele Viale, together with a good friend JØrgen Mårtensson. Then with the Norwegian national team and also together with my Swedish club Malung SK back in 2005. Gargano was something exotic, something new. And we got a lot of new energy to train in these areas”. 

 

Based on your experience, how do you think one should prepare to better master the tricky terrains of Foresta Umbra? 

“It’s a Mediterranean terrain, hilly and with good runnability, so you definitely should be prepared for some hard exercises up in Foresta Umbra. But you also have to stay focused at the map, because the terrain will always challenge you through the competition”. 

Do you recall some other special moments from your visit in Italy?

“I have a lot of special moments with the PWT crew in Italy, competitions and all the spectacular moments at different places and areas. Not only the forests and the nature, but also the people related together with tasteful and healthy food and wine. I do have some good memories of mapping Reggia di Caserta, the Royal Palace and Park back in 2016, and there was lovely to get Italian visitors from Caserta back in Norway last summer. That’s good moments of life, exchange and friendship. Another good memory I never forget, was the moment when the concept “Follow the Sun” invented. At a beach, waiting for the sunrise early in the morning, of course with the president of PWT Italy Gabriele Viale”.   

Thanks Bernt, and see you at WMOC 2022!

“Thanks again, for the wonderful people in the PWT Italy crew, and for longlife friendships, laugh and projects. I am looking forward to meet you in Gargano and WMOC 2022!”