NORWAY'S 10TH ANNUAL ARENDAL POKER RUN

from Powerboating In Paradise Vol22#3

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

10th ANNUAL ARENDAL POKER RUN – NORWAY

Story & Photos by Stu Jones

It was 2019 when the invitation was extended by Norway’s Arendal Poker Run organizer Rune Hogevoll, to Stu & Jackie Jones to attend with this annual event, but sadly the timing didn’t work. The global pandemic followed, knocking the event off its perch in 2020, and the run then continued into its ninth year for 2021. Fast-forward to 2022 and the 10th Anniversary celebration, attendance was looking robust, and the invitation was extended again. The organizer's offer was enticing, with free trans-atlantic airfare, poker run party passes, VIP guest status and rides on several participant boats! It was impossible to resist, and off we went on Norway’s newest airline NORSE Atlantic Airways, with direct flights on a Boeing 777 Dreamliner from Fort Lauderdale to Oslo.

Arriving in Oslo, it was comforting to be greeted by our personal driver, who ushered us on a scenic ride through Oslo and Norway’s rural countryside, to this quaint and immensely beautiful coastal town of Arendal, complete with is town dock which would function as poker run headquarters for the weekend event. After sleeping off the jetlag, we felt human again on Friday and were soon boarding Rune's 43' Nor-Tech for a fun run through the local waters to a charming restaurant where a variety of powerboat crews had gathered. FPC member Asbjorn (Abe) Abrahamsen was one of the first to greet us, and we soon realized he was an avid boater and event co-organizer working closely with Rune and his team on the planning details of the poker run. What a great start to our adventure, as we changed rides to yet another 39’ Nor-Tech and cruised back to Arendal.

What transpired over the next few days was by far one of the most exciting poker runs we have ever attended, with the breathtaking beauty of the Norwegian coastline and heart-warming hospitality from our hosts. Special thanks to event organizer Rune Hogevoll, FPC member Abe Abrahamsen, colleague Nicholay Rylander and our longtime friends Trond & Marie Schou, who we visited at their summer cottage near Arendal on Sunday after the poker run. Everyone there went out of their way to make us feel special, and we look forward to returning very soon!