A classic matchup
March 20, 2016 7:42 PM   Subscribe

Sweden versus Norway. A classic biathlon matchup on Scandinavia's most famous course.
posted by Slarty Bartfast (23 comments total) 27 users marked this as a favorite
 
I won't lie - I was pulling for Norway - especially after the glassware.
posted by Nanukthedog at 8:09 PM on March 20, 2016 [5 favorites]


I shared this on Facebook last week, and every time someone else shared it, I watched it again and literally laughed out loud.
posted by advicepig at 8:42 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]


That was amazing! First time I've ever seen two people get through Ikea without needing couples counseling after.
posted by Jernau at 8:47 PM on March 20, 2016 [5 favorites]


It went viral on my FB feed last week and none of us thought to turn on captions... I can attest that it is just as hilarious even when you can't understand any of it!

I was rooting for Norway when he had such difficulty going up the stairs at the start. Indeed, the pain in the ass that is going uphill while cross-country skiing is what led to the deminse of the sport as a hobby for me.... I did get a ton of delight in seeing them clatter around the store in their little ski-shuffle on the flat, though!

And now I'll admit my ignorance by admitting my surprise at how diverse the customers and staff were.
posted by TwoStride at 9:53 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]


This is so unrealistic. The only way you could ski through an open Ikea is over a sea of bodies.

Which, yes, I think I'd like to see a video of that very much.
posted by loquacious at 12:12 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Last year's race: https://www.facebook.com/nrksport/videos/10153685741252796/
posted by effbot at 1:02 AM on March 21, 2016


I'll admit my ignorance by admitting my surprise at how diverse the customers and staff were

Sweden actually has a higher percentage of foreign born residents than the US does right now I believe. They are now reacting to that fact by following every other country in having a reactionary political movement emerge, sadly.

That said, my (part Norwegian/Swedish) blonde kids (who go to a truly mixed race/nationality state urban school in London where they are among only 6 blonde kids) visibly freaked out in the Stockholm airport by how uniform and just like them the population looked.
posted by C.A.S. at 1:06 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Norway is bad at stairs. Why is Norway so bad at stairs?
posted by nat at 1:14 AM on March 21, 2016


Norway is bad at stairs. Why is Norway so bad at stairs?

BECAUSE THE NORWEGIAN ARE DALEKS!!!!
posted by eriko at 3:53 AM on March 21, 2016 [2 favorites]


Scandinavians - the last remaining acceptable target of ethnic jokes
posted by C.A.S. at 4:17 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Sweden deserved to win. The relative grace of their skier on stairs completely sealed it. And showed why downhill stair skiing needs to be in the next Olympics.
posted by honestcoyote at 4:23 AM on March 21, 2016


Norwegians - the last remaining acceptable target of ethnic jokes

Here, ftfy. (you knew it, right? The store is in Norway and the winning guy is Norwegian too)
posted by Namlit at 5:14 AM on March 21, 2016


Namlit: "the winning guy is Norwegian too"

That explains his mad staircase telemark skills.
posted by chavenet at 5:45 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Here, ftfy. (you knew it, right? The store is in Norway and the winning guy is Norwegian too)

Umm. The winner? The one in Blue and Yellow?

(thinks)

Yeah. Definitely Norwegian. You should go to Sweden and tell them yourself!
posted by eriko at 6:02 AM on March 21, 2016


haven't tried it with skis but among our friends we hold the undefeated record of "in and out of a full Ikea on a Saturday including a purchase".

Took us 30 mins. We are so proud!!
posted by alchemist at 7:03 AM on March 21, 2016


The one effbot posted is also great.

Sweden wins both races, but to be fair the Norwegian guy is a journalist/actor, while the Swede is Robin Bryntesson, three times junior world cross country champion.
posted by brokkr at 7:38 AM on March 21, 2016


so the dude at 4 minutes, wearing a cap for the Washington DC football team ?!?!
posted by k5.user at 8:01 AM on March 21, 2016


I did 15minutes at Richmond BC IKEA with toddler once. No skiis. Felt like a genius. Later realized I should have just gone in backwards to the place with the boxes.
Then effort was wasted because I got lost in the farmland roads for 30 minutes and nearly missed my ferry. It was like IKEA designed the roadways around the store!
posted by chapps at 8:15 AM on March 21, 2016


This is what I look like x-country skiing on smooth level snow.

Also, if they tried this in the U.S. one of the customers would have shot back with a real gun.
posted by benito.strauss at 8:57 AM on March 21, 2016


Well I know where I'm going for lunch today...
posted by clorox at 9:28 AM on March 21, 2016


Their IKEA sure has a lot of stairs. Mine doesn't have any.
posted by liet at 10:35 AM on March 21, 2016


Sweden wins both races, but to be fair the Norwegian guy is a journalist/actor, while the Swede is Robin Bryntesson, three times junior world cross country champion.

That explains why the Swedish dude is a much better skier and the Norwegian's complete lack of trigger discipline!
A biathlonist (biathaloner?) should know better. He's a pretty good shot with that Nerf gun though.
posted by madajb at 1:11 PM on March 21, 2016


"Loser."
posted by wenestvedt at 6:27 PM on March 21, 2016


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