Maja and Arvid are Vasaloppet's Kranskulla and Kransmas 2025

The competition manager for Vasaloppet appoints the Kranskulla, the 101st since 1922, while the competition managers for Tjejvasan appoint the Kransmas, the 37th since 1988. The Kranskulla and Kransmas hold what is often referred to as the most prestigious assignments among the thousands of functionaries who make Vasaloppet’s varied events possible.

Maja Heikki has been appointed Vasaloppet’s Kranskulla 2025 with the following motivation:
“The 2025 Kranskulla was born in Luleå, but when she was one year old, her family moved to Sälen, her mother’s hometown. Today, Maja studies sports science in Östersund and competes in cross-country skiing for Sälens IF and the newly established long-distance skiing team GS8.

Vasaloppet holds a special place for Maja, who for many years has handed out drinks at Smågan, distributed number bibs, and stood with spare poles at the first hill in Sälen. Last winter, she competed in Vasaloppet herself, finishing in an impressive 40th place, qualifying her for the elite start group in 2025. So a moment of hesitation arose before she accepted the role of Kranskulla instead.

Maja Heikki is genuinely kind, considerate, calm, and confident. This winter, she will continue focusing on her skiing and aiming for top positions in the Swedish long-distance skiing cup. She will also participate in some Ski Classics stages, including competing in Tjejvasan 2025. Maja Heikki is the natural choice as the Kranskulla for Vasaloppet’s 2025 events.”
Annlouise Almqvist, competition manager for Vasaloppet

Facts Vasaloppet’s Kranskulla 2025:
Name: Maja Heikki
Age: 21 (born September 12, 2003)
Residence: Sälen/Östersund
Family: Mother Anki, father Fredrik, twin sister Kajsa
Occupation: Second-year sports science student at Mid Sweden University, Östersund; trains 15–17 hours weekly
Sport: Cross-country skiing
Club: Sälens IF
Ski Classics Team: Team GS8
Achievements: 40th in Vasaloppet 2024, 36th in Tjejvasan 2024, 5th in Craft Ski Marathon 2024, 3rd in Tjejvasan Junior Class 2022, 7th in JSM Sprint 2022
Athletic goals: Compete in Ski Classics full-time and contend for top placements
Interests: Music, singing, spending time with friends, playing football, snowboarding, coaching a boys’ football team
Describe yourself in three words: Considerate, calm, and confident

Maja Heikki becomes the 101st Kranskulla, and ”the Kranskulla who gave up Vasaloppet to be Kranskulla”. Hailing from a passionate sports family in Sälen, Maja has been an athlete her whole life, and is now studying sports science. On Sunday, March 2, 2025, she will not be at the start line of Vasaloppet like she was for the 100th race; she will instead wait at the finish line.

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Arvid Jerkgård has been appointed Vasaloppet’s Kransmas 2025 with the following motivation:
“This year’s Kransmas has played football for IFK Mora from a young age. He grew up valuing his hometown club, camaraderie, and teammates. After a successful six months as a player for GIF Sundsvall, where he performed excellently, he returned to Mora to continue helping his local team achieve future victories.

This year’s Kransmas grew up volunteering at Vasaloppet events, sorting backpacks at Prästholmens IP, or serving blueberry soup to Vasaloppet participants in Hökberg. He is seen as a quiet leader with the ability to inspire and unite his teammates without being the loudest voice; a quality worth observing and learning from.

His passion for sports, team spirit, and achievements as a football player for IFK Mora have led us, the competition managers for Tjejvasan, to appoint Arvid Jerkgård as Vasaloppet’s Kransmas for 2025.”
Helene Söderlund and Cathrine Mörk, competition managers for Tjejvasan

Facts Vasaloppet’s Kransmas 2025:
Name: Arvid Jerkgård
Age: 20 (born March 4, 2004)
Residence: Mora
Family: Mother Ann-Marie, father Per, brother Jakob
Occupation: Works in production at Morakniv AB in Östnor, Mora, making the world-famous Mora knives
Sport: Football
Club: IFK Mora Football Club (previously Öna SK)
Achievements: Selected for Future Team in Sweden’s P15-16/04 National Team, participated in four camps, but sadly no matches due to the pandemic
Athletic goals: Right now, simply enjoying the sport and seeing where it leads
Interests: Golf is a lot of fun, spending time with friends, travelling
Describe yourself in three words: Happy, loyal, calm

IFK Mora Football Club has, at its best, played two seasons in the country’s second-highest division (1986 and 1987). In the past season, 2024, the team went undefeated in Division 4 Dalarna, winning 20 out of 22 matches. This means that IFK Mora FK will play in Division 3 in 2025. Arvid Jerkgård scored 18 goals in his 18 matches this year, despite not considering himself a goal scorer. His father, Per, is also part of the team management as an analyst.

FACTS
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 2025 starts with Vasaloppet 30 on Friday, February 21, and finishes with the 101st Vasaloppet on Sunday, March 2. The Kranskulla will be crowned in Mora’s church on Friday, February 28, 2025 and the Kransmas will be crowned in Älvdalen’s church on Friday, February 21, 2025.

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.

Read more about the Kranskulla and Kransmas in Vasaloppet >