2016 will welcome the third Iceland Winter Games (IWG), which is one of the world's biggest winter festivals. Based in Akureyri, the ski capital of Iceland, the festival draws in some of the biggest names in winter sports and hosts events unseen anywhere else. This includes challenging ski jumps in the shape of volcanoes, mountain top to sea skiing, Arctic horseback riding and dog sledding championships. Taking place from 24th March - 3rd April, the festival is a must for adrenalin loving adventure seekers and those looking for a more unusual festival.
Starting in 2014 as a single freeskiing competion, IWG 2016 will have over 60 events, making it one of the fastest growing winter festivals. The two main events are the AFP Gold freeski competition and the IWG open snowboard competition, which have already attracted some of the biggest names in winter sports. This includes Henrik Harlut, two time gold medalist in X Games Aspen Big Air as well as US olympic medalist snowboarder, Scotty Lago.
As well as winter sports, guests can take breathtaking tours in superjeeps, helicopters, snowmobiles or even in green energy powered schooner boats. The focus is on intrinsically Icelandic activities such as skiing under the northern lights on Mt. Hlíðarfjall´s beautiful slopes and heliskiing on the Troll Peninsula, where the slopes reach from the mountain tops all the way to black sand beaches. A ski in Iceland can even end with a surf in the Arctic Ocean!
The festival is based in Akureyri, Iceland's second city and the gateway to Iceland's north. Surrounded by mountains and located along a long fjord, it is the perfect setting for a winter sports festival.