100 days to go: Fanny Axelsson and Daniel Duhlbo are Vasaloppet's Kranskulla and Kransmas 2020

On Friday morning – with exactly 100 days left until Vasaloppet on March 1, 2020 – the 96th Kranskulla and 32nd Kransmas were presented. Fanny Axelsson and Daniel Duhlbo, both from Mora, now have what’s commonly known as the most honourable assignment among the thousands of functionaries that make Vasaloppet’s events possible.

Intense weeks are to come for the Kranskulla and Kransmas with many races and multiple victors to crown. Presently there are over 58,000 registered participants for Vasaloppet’s Winter Week in February/March 2020 and Vasaloppet’s Summer Week in August 2020. Vasaloppet is fully booked but it is still possible to register for all other races.

Fanny Axelsson has been appointed as Kranskulla 2020 with the following motivation:
”The 2020 Kranskulla is a curious and fearless Mora woman who loves speed and belongs to the top tier of Swedish alpine skiers. Through her own involvement, and that of her family, in the Vasaloppet organization she is well acquainted with the charge of the Kranskulla and with her positive personality she meets all the expected criteria. Fanny Axelsson is an obvious choice and she will be an excellent ambassador for Vasaloppet in the coming year.”
Bo Johansson and Annlouise Almqvist, competition managers for Vasaloppet.

Facts Fanny Axelsson
Age: 21 (born December 3, 1998)
Residence: Åre
Family: mother Sara, father Peter, little sister Clara and little brother Lukas
Occupation: Focusing on her alpine career at Åre Skiduniversitet and studying individual courses
Sports: Downhill skiing with mountain biking in the summer to complement the training
Merits: bronze in the super-G at Winter Universiade (”The University Olympics”) 2019, downhill bronze at the Swedish Championships 2019, gold in the older junior section of the downhill Swedish Championships 2019.
Athletic goals: eventually skiing in the world cup, I want to be as good of a skier as possible
Interests: there isn’t time for much besides sports but I like CrossFit and biking
Describe yourself with three words: determined, competitive and pretty stubborn

”I have always seen that the Kranskulla is an honourable assignment but I never thought that one day I would become one of them. I’m very grateful that I get the chance to award the victory wreath,” says Fanny Axelsson.

Daniel Duhlbo has been appointed Kransmas 2020 with the following motivation:
”This year’s Kransmas grew up in both IFK Mora’s ski club and orienteering club. Besides his own orientation career up to the junior and senior levels, he has been involved in supporting the club’s active members both at a youth and elite level as a youth coach and member of the elite committee. Add to that the great responsibility of a course setter at the district level and we’ve found a passionate soul with a big sports heart. His thoughtful and positive personality, along with genuine love for the sport, makes Daniel Duhlbo an excellent ambassador for Vasaloppet and an obvious choice as the 2020 Kransmas.”
Cathrine Mörk and Helene Söderlund, competition managers for Tjejvasan.

Facts Daniel Duhlbo
Age: 23 (born February 28, 1996)
Residence: Falun
Family: partner Sara, mother Ulla, father Håkan, sister Erika
Occupation: studying Lantmätarprogrammet in Gävle
Sports: orienteering, also cycling and running
Merits: some orienteering district championship medals from my younger days; youth coach at IFK Mora Orienteering Club
Athletic goals: on my level the greatest help I can give the club is to run well at the relays, such as Tiomila. And continuing my engagement in the club.
Interests: sports overall, both watching and participating; cycling, Frisbee golf, and I enjoy cooking
Describe yourself with three words: kind, fairly happy and considerate

”I can’t describe what an incredible honour this is. It’s going to be such an exciting year,” says Daniel Duhlbo.