In September of this year Steel Viking Fitness descended upon the rugged walls of Bamburgh Castle to run The Viking games, and those brave enough to compete all earned their spots in the halls of Valhalla, leaving their mark much as Ragnar did a thousand years ago. For the uninitiated The Viking Games was a test, forged in steel and sweat, pushing warriors through 8 gruelling trials in endurance, strength, skill-at-arms and unbreakable spirit - in other words a test of what it takes to be a true Viking!
All told the first Viking Games was a success, but we know we are being judged by the gods and hold ourselves to that standard. This is only the beginning and we’re here to make a promise: next year, we’re coming back with axes sharpened, shields braced with a hunger for a bigger, badder and better Viking Games!
Victories and Retreats: Lessons from the First Raid
“No battle plan survives contact with the enemy”
We knew this going in, prepared beyond measure with the most well-laid plans, however, we weren’t prepared for just how quickly the breaks in our shield wall would appear. At risk of watering down the feedback, most of our casualties can be attributed to delays in arrival of kit the day before and a swathe of volunteer no-shows.
This meant the morning was a true melee, a frantic battle against time. The fantastic volunteers we did have were true warriors, cutting about tying off lines and hauling supplies where they were needed. We couldn’t have done it without the initiative and moxy of those guys, but through necessity too much was delegated and we had too few hands on deck to really pull the morning together how we would’ve liked.
This bled into the rest of the day, with too few hands our generals were refereeing trials instead of supporting volunteers, competitors and whipping the event into shape. We were forced to pour time into the basic logistics instead of building the full Viking experience we envisioned. We know some trials missed their mark, and competitor support wasn’t up to our usual battle-ready standard.
All that being said, with spit, grit, blood, sweat and tears our motley crew pulled together and competitors were able to compete for their shot at glory and we saw some fantastic contenders give their all!
A Growing Hoard: Building the Viking Games Community
Aside from us being able to get the first year under our belts and build some calluses for the future, the power of this year’s Games was more than weights lifted and trials conquered. It was the birth of a Viking community! One that is as fierce in spirit as it is supportive of our growth. Not only is the support and feedback we received from this year’s competitors are already sharpening our plans for 2025, the raiding party is out there, competing in competitions and repping Steel Viking!
As any warrior knows, your life depends on the fellow rogue in the shield wall next you. We fully embrace this community of savages and our commitment to them goes beyond The Viking Games. We will assemble a host of true Vikings, we will help them train like wild beasts, hone their warrior instincts and send them forth to raid, conquer and earn the glory of the gods!
Next Year’s Saga: The Viking Games 2025 Will be a Whole New Monster
We’ve taken our licks, and we go into prep for 2025 with eyes open and big ideas! The Viking Games 2025 will be everything you expect from a legendary raid - multiplied. Here’s a start with our rough battle plans to make next year’s event bigger, better and more ferocious!
More battle-ready support: A tighter, more reliable volunteer crew, that’s engaged and supported in the lead up to the event to ensure smooth sailing from set-up to celebrations.
Improved Competitor support: Enabled by the first point, our communication and support for each contender will be ironclad, to create a better experience before, during and after competing.
Bigger Groups, Bigger Energy: Some trials had fantastic crowd support, we want more of this, we plan to send around larger groups next to each trial next year to create a charged, high-energy battleground - the more Viking’s the better the fight!
Levelling up Logistics: We vow to spend more where it counts, leveraging 3rd party reinforcements so our team can focus on the task at hand - delivering pure Viking mayhem.
More Spectator Hype: Vikings fight best with an audience, so we plan to do more for spectators and turn up the atmosphere.
Immersive Trials: Bamburgh Castle is already a perfect backdrop, but we know we can do more to make the trials even more Viking and provide better set-dressing to get everyone in the spirit.
A Battle Won with Legendary Allies
We couldn’t have brought The Viking Games to life without the support of our incredible sponsors. A massive thank you to Bamburgh Castle for providing the perfect historic battleground, The Knight Shop for the epic prizes, and Raven Forge for their unwavering support. A shoutout to Awesome Supplements, our official hydration partner, for keeping our warriors fueled, and to Northern Outdoor for expertly range-mastering the spear toss. And of course, Whiskey Barrel Brothers – your barrel made Vidar’s Pull an event to remember and put our cart under some serious stress! Your support helped make The Viking Games truly legendary. Skål!
A Call to Arms: Join the 2025 Saga
The Viking Games is growing into a real movement, one that brings together warriors ready to test their limits and prove they are the ultimate Viking. We’ve built a powerful bond with Bamburgh Castle, and they’re as committed as we are to making the next Games an event worthy of legend. Whether you’re a competitor, a spectator, or a Viking-in-waiting, prepare yourself. We’re coming back next year with an event that’ll be even more intense, authentic, and unforgettable.
The saga’s only just begun. Gear up, train hard, and get ready to answer the call of The Viking Games 2025. Let’s make history – Viking style.
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