Trondheim (Norway) 10 April 2026 –
It was qualifying time for the final round of the 2026 FIM Snowcross World Championship as the Grånasen Arena held its first races for the series in beautiful sunshine in front of an enthusiastic crowd of fans with some home heroes to cheer on!
The Men’s races saw some exhilarating action with several fast wave sections being hit at flat-out speeds to astonish the curious local fans, many of whom were new to the sport!
Swedish Ski-Doo pilot Gustav Sahlsten, who won his home round at the end of the 2025 season, returned to action in brilliant style with a win in Heat One. Championship leader Aki Pihlaja took advantage of a big first corner crash that claimed much of his competition in Heat Two, but the Lynx team leader lost out in Heat Two to fellow Finn Topi Rinne, who had the best day of anybody with 2-1 finishes! Pihlaja still made ground on his main competitors for the title.
The Women’s class was dominated again by another Swede on a Ski-doo, Wilma Jonsson, who had another perfect day with the win in both heats, and she just needs to finish in the points tomorrow to claim her first Women’s world title!
Reigning World Champion and Norwegian local hero Elias Ishoel has returned to the fray in the European Snowcross Championship, to try and claim the only title he has yet to win, and with clear wins in both heats he looks to be the hot favourite to do just that in the main races tomorrow!
Compared to the torrid weather that affected the first two rounds in Türkiye, the Norwegian sunshine provided the perfect platform to showcase the spectacle of Snowcross throughout the opening day of action at Trondheim!
SNX
Finnish rider Topi Rinne swept to the early lead in race one ahead of Pihlaja, although Sahlsten took second place from the series leader in the second corner. Sahlsten then made a brilliant move to take the lead through the wave section on lap three, and was able to build nearly a five-second lead over the nine-lap race. Rinne was challenged throughout by Pihlaja, but took second place to match his Qualifying result from round two. Aki Pesonen took fourth place ahead of opening round winner Olle Sahlström.
There was no denying Rinne in Heat Two, however, as he passed the Holeshot taker Pihlaja after a big first corner crash from Sahlsten, Pesonen, Martin Johansson, and second round runner-up Topi Posti!
Pihlaja was able to make it a Lynx 1-2 by holding off a challenge from Sahlström, in a vital battle between the top two in the Championship. Swede Filip Harr took his Ski-Doo sled to a fine fourth place, with local favourite Robert Lunden in fifth spot.
Sahlsten set the fastest lap of the race as he recovered to 12th position, but that will hurt his gate choice for tomorrow’s races, making it tricky through the tight first couple of corners at the Granåsen venue!
With several top riders able to get amongst them, there is still everything to play for between the experienced Pihlaja and the hot rookie Sahlström as they fight for the 2026 FIM Snowcross World Championship tomorrow! Don’t miss what could be an epic showdown in the snow!
SNX NORWAY – QUALIFYING HEAT 1
SNX NORWAY – QUALIFYING HEAT 2
SNX NORWAY – QUALIFYING HEAT OVERALL
WSNX
Swedish points leader Wilma Jonsson kept her perfect 2026 record intact with a start to finish win in Heat One, although there was an early crash for the sole Lynx pilot Emma Laamanen, although the Finn was not hurt in the incident. Another Swede, Tilde Karelius, was a distant second, while loudly-cheered Norwegian racer Mali Hoelsaeter took a solid third position.
Wilma Jonsson repeated the feat in Heat Two to stay perfect for the season, but Hoelsaeter was able to stay closer to her pace and finish within seven seconds of the winner, with Karelius third this time to complete another Ski-Doo 1-2-3.
This puts Jonsson in a prime position to go one better than last year’s Championship result as she aims to take home her first world title in Women’s Snowcross!
The main races take place tomorrow with the promise of more sunshine to keep conditions soft and challenging at the spectacular Grånasen venue. Two World Championships will be decided as the local fans flock to be amazed by the snow-blasting monsters and their athletic pilots!
WSNX NORWAY – QUALIFYING HEAT 1
WSNX NORWAY – QUALIFYING HEAT 2
WSNX NORWAY – QUALIFYING HEAT OVERALL
ESNX
| Elias Ishoel was the main man of the day with a strong and dominant performance that places him right a the top of the contenders. Especially as he on both rice with a large gap over his challengers. Next in line were Jan Even Romsdal who finished second with a decent 3-2 while Isak Persen managed to finished third with 4-3. ESNX NORWAY – QUALIFYING HEAT 1 ESNX NORWAY – QUALIFYING HEAT 2 ESNX NORWAY – QUALIFYING HEAT OVERALL All the results can be find on the Sportity App (Event Password: SNX2026) |
Timetable (Local Time / UTC+2)
Saturday – 11 April 2026 – Race Day
10:45 – 10:55 | SNX Warm-Up
11:00 – 11:10 | WSNX Warm-Up
11:15 – 11:25 | ESNX Warm-Up
11:45 | Opening Ceremony
12:00 | Freestyle Warm-Up
12:35 – 12:52 | SNX EU – Final 1
13:05 – 13:17 | WSNX – Final 1
13:30 – 13:47 | SNX – Final 1
14:00 | Freestyle Show
15:00 – 15:17 | SNX EU – Final 2
15:30 – 15:42 | WSNX – Final 2
15:55 – 16:12 | SNX – Final 2
16:30 | Prize Giving Ceremony (Immediately after races)
Press Conference (Immediately after ceremony)
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