The Sailing Race 2025 – The two students behind Aarhus' wildest party

Published: 04.03.2025

by: Christina Hazelden

It’s almost 05:30 AM, the sun is rising over University Park, and thousands of students have already arrived. The atmosphere is vibrant in the early morning air – people are crowding the lawns with cold beers and vodka shots in hand, the music starts playing, and the best seats near the lake are quickly taken. Later in the day, the participating teams will step out in creative costumes, ready to fight for the legendary trophy – The Golden Brook.

The boat race in the University Park is the biggest party at Aarhus University, with 30.000 guests. But behind all the beer relays and cheers are two medical students who have spent almost a year making it all happen.
Alex and Bjarke from Umbilicus are leading the planning this year, and we talked to them about what it takes to put together Northern Europe's largest student-run event.

A year of preparation for a single day

The planning for the most festive event of the year starts as early as September. From booking artists to coordinating food stalls and getting security in place – there are no shortcuts. At the same time, the associations that will be allowed to participate must be selected.

Alex, who is now in his third year at Umbilicus, says with a smile: “It’s a bit like a full-time job alongside our studies. We have long days and the next few months will be busy. But when it’s all over, the reading room will be our best friend again when we’re studying for exams.”

The 2025 Sailing Race - photo - Mikkel Ejlertsen

Alex and Bjarke – Photo: Mikkel Ejlertsen

An attractive but demanding position

Not just anyone can get the role of main organizer. “You have to have been part of Umbilicus for at least one year to even be able to stand,” Bjarke explains. “It’s a position that requires so much work that it would be almost impossible to start from scratch. But we are lucky to have good notes and experiences from the previous teams, and so we get lots of sparring.”

The sailing race brings together the entire university

The regatta is an event that brings students together across disciplines and semesters. The social aspect is essential, and for many it is a big part of the experience. For the students, even those who don't sail, the community and the party are just as much a part of the day as the competition itself.
I come from Zealand myself, and one of the reasons I chose Aarhus was actually that I saw videos of the Race,” says Bjarke.

Bjarke nods. “It is one of the largest social events at Aarhus University, and it is a tribute to volunteerism. We could never do it without the hundreds of volunteers who help.”

In fact, there are over 300 volunteers from various student associations who make sure that the Race can run smoothly. They participate in everything from setting up bars and stages to coordinating on the day itself and the big clean-up afterwards. Without their efforts, it would not be possible to hold an event of this size.

A difficult decision when selecting a team

Selecting the associations that will be allowed to sail this year has been one of the most difficult tasks for the organizers. With more applicants than places, Alex and Bjarke have had to make some tough choices.

“We know how much it means to the associations to be involved,” says Alex. “It's not just about the individual sailors, but also about their entire study environment and the traditions they represent.”

To ensure a fair process, all applications are assessed based on several criteria, including commitment, creativity, and previous participation – and yes, whether the team was in the final last year. “It was really hard to disappoint someone,” says Bjarke, “but we have done our very best to make the right decisions,” Alex adds.

Who will win this year?

Medicine has dominated the competition for several years, but can anyone challenge them in the 2025 Sailing Championship? “It is still too early to say,” Alex admits. “But we have a good eye for the dentists from Apollonia. They have a lot of experienced rowers, and that gives a big advantage,” says Bjarke.

Experience plays a crucial role in the Race. Teams that have participated before know the little tricks – when to give the boat an extra push, how to best maintain balance after spinning around, and not least how to drink your beer as quickly as possible.

“It's always exciting to see how new teams fare against the experienced ones,” says Bjarke."Sometimes a team surprises completely because they have trained hard. But historically, teams with previous participation have a clear advantage," adds Alex.

Technique, fitness or just the ability to bottom?

So what makes a good racing rower? Is it technique, strength or just the ability to bottom a beer in record time? Bjarke smiles: “It's actually much harder than you think. It's all about timing, technique and coordination. Alex complements, “even how fast you spin around after drinking the beer plays a role.”

Alex nods. “We see people from all sorts of sports – kayakers, gymnasts, people who have played football – but at the end of the day, it’s the training that makes the difference. It’s a sport all its own!”

Small changes and big expectations

Although the concept remains the same, there will be new initiatives this year. More activities in the park will ensure that there is something for everyone. The food stalls will be more varied, and extra large screens will make it possible to follow the competition, even from areas on the periphery, where it has previously been a little quieter. Bjarke and Alex look back on last year as one of the best-run races ever, and if they can repeat the success and add a little extra “crunch”, they will be very satisfied.

But most importantly? “That people enjoy themselves, have a fantastic day and go to the afterparty!” Alex laughs.

Cleanup and responsibility

Every year after the Race, pictures of a park covered in plastic cups and beer cans abound on social media and in local media. The criticism is well-known – students are accused of littering, and the municipality is accused of having to clean up after them.

“We understand that it may seem overwhelming,” says Bjarke. “But it’s frustrating when people judge us on a photo taken at 6 a.m. before we’ve even started cleaning up. If they came back later in the day, they’d see a completely different park.”

According to the organizers, the cleanup is tightly organized. All participating associations commit to helping, and the volunteers start collecting trash as soon as the party ends. “On Saturday afternoon, the park is actually cleaner than when we took it over,” says Alex. “And it's thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who work hard, often with hangovers from the after-party, but still ready to take responsibility,” Bjarke continues.

A celebration, a competition and a tradition

For Alex and Bjarke, the Sailing Race is much more than a competition for the Golden Stream. It is a day when thousands of students gather to party, laugh and enjoy each other's company – whether they are sailing or cheering from the shore. The atmosphere in the University Park is something very special, and for many it feels like the ultimate celebration of student life in Aarhus.

“It's a bit like an official end to spring,” Alex concludes. “After the Race, most people's focus shifts to the exams, but on that particular day it's just about having fun and being together.”

So whether you're going to sail, cheer or just experience the unique atmosphere in Universitetsparken – the 2025 Sailing Race will be a day you don't want to miss.