Alice Larsson and Albin Gezelius are Vasaloppet's Kranskulla and Kransmas 2023
For those who want to register for Vasaloppet on March 5, 2023 there are still a number of start places left. Two people who don't need to register are Alice Larsson from Sälens IF, appointed by competition management as the 99th Kranskulla, and Albin Gezelius from IFK Mora, appointed by Tjejvasan competition management as the 35th Kransmas. They now have what's often referred to as the two most honourable assignments among the thousands of functionaries that make Vasaloppet's events possible – awarding victors with their wreaths. These thousands of functionaries will assist the many participants in Vasaloppet's Winter Week and Summer Week in 2023 – right now, there are more than 40,000 participants already registered.
Alice Larsson has been appointed Vasaloppet’s Kranskulla 2023 with the following motivation:
”This year’s Kranskulla grew up in an iconic Vasaloppet environment in Sälen and has been involved in Vasaloppet events together with her family since childhood. After her elite venture into alpine downhill skiing, she has assumed a leadership role in Sälens IF, where she is seen as effective, with a strong sense of justice. She is clear in her opinions and has an ability to get the group on board in a fantastic way. Alice Larsson is the competition management’s choice of Kranskulla for Vasaloppet 2023 and she will be an excellent ambassador for the Vasaloppet organization in the coming year.”
Bo Johansson and Annlouise Almqvist, competition managers for Vasaloppet
Facts Vasaloppet’s Kranskulla 2023
Name: Alice Larsson
Age: 22 (born April 29, 2000)
Residence: Sälen
Family: Mother Camilla, father Jerker, brother Albin
Occupation: Working full time at Leonarden in Sälen
Sports: Alpine skiing
Merits: Super-g gold at the Swedish Championships for youths in 2015, top ten in all events at the Swedish Championships for younger juniors in 2018, including a super-G bronze
Athletic goals: No longer active, but the goal was always to improve as much as possible. Now I use my knowledge from alpine skiing when I try other sports.
Interests: Being out in the mountains, cross-country skiing or walking my dog, hanging out with friends, doing CrossFit
Describe yourself with three words: Social, ambitious, determined
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Albin Gezelius has been appointed Vasaloppet’s Kransmas 2023 with the following motivation:
”This year’s Kransmas is multi-talented in a number of different sports and he represents not just one but several of IFK Mora’s allied clubs.
Regardless of whether he’s got skis or running shoes on his feet, on a course with or without obstacles, in terrain or in the forest with a map in hand; he has gained great success both at Swedish and international levels.
His strong competitive spirit combined with great humility and thoughtfulness make this year’s Kransmas a good teammate and a fine role model for those who will be active within IFK Mora in the future.
This year’s Kransmas was born and raised in Mora and belongs to a family that shares a great committent to and love for sports, having worked numerous hours as Vasaloppet functionaries, both in summer and winter.
As competition managers for Tjejvasan, we can see that Albin Gezelius will be an excellent ambassador for Vasaloppet’s Winter Week and Summer Week in 2023.”
Helene Söderlund and Cathrine Mörk, competition manager for Tjejvasan
Facts Vasaloppet’s Kransmas 2023
Name: Albin Gezelius
Age: 19 (born June 19, 2003)
Residence: Mora
Family: Mother Katarina, father Peter, sister Elin
Occupation: Senior at the ski gymnasium in Mora, having studied natural sciences
Sports: At present focused on ski orienteering, orienteering, cross-country skiing and athletics (track running, cross-country running, trail running), but has tried most sports when younger…
Merits: Athletics: Junior Swedish Championship gold in 2000 metre steeplechase, winner of Lidingöloppet P19. Orienteering: Junior Swedish Championship gold sprinting H18. Ski orienteering: 3 individual Junior World Championship silvers and one senior Swedish Championship silver.
Athletic goals: Get as good as possible, hopefully best in the world.
Interests: Disc golf, fishing
Describe yourself with three words: Goal-oriented, curious, inventive
FACTS
* A kulla is a girl from Dalarna, a krans is a wreath; so Kranskulla very literally translated would be ”wreath girl” which is not so poetic in English – ”garland girl” might do, but Kranskulla is best left untranslated! A mas is a man from Dalarna.
The first Kranskulla appeared in connection with the very first Vasaloppet in 1922 while the first Kransmas entered the scene alongside the first Tjejvasan in 1988. Since 2005, the Kransmas also awards the victory wreath to the women’s class winner of Vasaloppet.
Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2023 starts with Vasaloppet 30 on Friday, February 24 and finishes with the 99th Vasaloppet on Sunday, March 5. The Kranskulla will be crowned in Mora’s church on Friday, March 3, 2023 and the Kransmas will be crowned in Älvdalen’s church on Friday, February 24, 2023.
During Vasaloppet’s Summer Week, which started in 2009, the Kranskulla and Kransmas also crown the winners of Cykelvasan 90, Ultravasan 90, Ultravasan 45, Trailvasan 30 and Vasastafetten.
