Party, community and the fight for the Golden Bækken. The race gathers 30.000 young people in Aarhus

On Friday, the otherwise quiet University Park was transformed into Northern Europe's largest student party. Already shortly after midnight, students from the various education faculties began to appear in the park bringing couches and blankets and by the morning most of the large park was already well filled with festive young people, all ready to cheer on their team, who had to fight for the Golden Brook.

Community, victory intoxication and student atmosphere

The race is an annual tradition that gathers up to 30.000 students from all educational institutions in Aarhus. It is a day when you can feel the very special student atmosphere that can only be found in Aarhus and which this year has been voted Denmark's best student city.
But Kapsejladsen is not only about competition and victory. It is also about community and collaboration across programs and fields of study.
The whole park is buzzing with life and joy all day, and it's hard not to avoid being infected by the fantastic atmosphere.

When I arrived at Uniparken a little after noon, I was greeted by an enormous amount of festive students, and with the many thousands of participants it was not easy to get around the park. The first team stood and tripped to get started with their intro show and out on the raft in the middle of the lake, this year's emcee, Melvin Kakooza and Martin Johannes Larsen were well on their way to keeping the party going.

A tradition that brings together Aarhus' student environment across educations

But why is it that the Race in Aarhus has now been a tradition among students since 1991.
I had a chat with Tobias, who attends the Business School, and Mathias, who studies pedagogy, and asked what Kapsejladsen does for the community and the student environment in Aarhus. Even if they go to two different studies, it doesn't matter. They have known each other all their lives and use the day to party with their mutual friends and meet new people from other studios.

"On a daily basis, our friends and fellow students are scattered all over the city, but today we all gather here in Uniparken," explains Tobias. "It makes a huge difference to the community and gives us the opportunity to learn from each other across fields of study.
Racing is a way to bring together all Aarhus students and it doesn't matter whether it is from Uni, the Business Academy or VIA. If you are a carpenter and craftsman. We are all here for the same thing.”

Mathias adds: "You can really feel the atmosphere and the energy. We are all here to have fun and support our team, but also to meet new people and make new friends.”

Freeze, coziness and good atmosphere

Tobias has been one of those who was ready to occupy Unipark as early as three o'clock in the morning. Even if it meant he had to freeze from three to seven in the morning, it was all worth it. “We waited for the sunrise and then there were different times when people showed up. Some had already set up their camp up by PROFUS when we arrived, so we had to find a place outside," says Tobias.

Tobias continues and says that they have a mutual friend who has brought three sofas. "He wrote to me when I arrived with my camping chair that I was a bit of a rookie," he says, laughing. "So it's a good idea to get there early if you want the best seats."

I asked Mathias and Tobias why they had positioned themselves further away from their camp this afternoon. Mathias quickly replied: "For my part, I'm not just here for the racing. I'm here to have a nice day with fellow students across fields of study. There is a very special atmosphere here today, where we are all gathered for the same purpose, namely to have a fun and entertaining day. And great respect for those who have kept it running since 2 tonight.

A day filled with laughter, music and memories

The race is not just for the students from Aarhus. Although the competition is between different faculties, there were also guests from Odense and Copenhagen who had traveled to Aarhus this Friday to take part in the festivities. And it wasn't just the current students who enjoyed the day. Even some of those who had already completed their studies were also sitting around the park enjoying themselves with old friends and fellow students.

And as Friday went on, the atmosphere only got more and more intense, and it was clear that everyone was here to have fun and make memories with friends and fellow students. It was a day filled with laughter, music and beer - and another successful Race was over. We are already looking forward to next year's party!

And big congratulations to Umbilicus (Medicine), who for the 13th time can stand on the stool with Det Gyldne Bækken.