More women than ever registered for Vasaloppet 2024

”The figures are preliminary, as they can be affected right up until the race, but 23 percent at this stage feels very inspiring and gratifying,” says Lena Hermansson, project manager at Vasaloppet.

In this year’s Vasaloppet, which took place on Sunday, March 5, 2023, 18.4 percent of the registered participants were women, and the overall number for all races during the Winter Week was 35.5 percent. Around 30,000 participants are now registered to participate in a race during Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2024, and the total of female participants is currently 36 percent. Generally, the shorter races of 30 and 45 kilometres have a more even gender distribution than the 90-kilometre races.

In August 2022, Vasaloppet launched the project ”More women on the track” with the aim of getting more female participants to the various races during Vasaloppet’s Winter Week and Summer Week. Since then, several initiatives and measures have been implemented. Among other things, a development group has been formed with people outside the organization to help Vasaloppet achieve a more even gender distribution in the races. A local inspirational meeting focused on cross-country skiing has been arranged, targeted emails with information and offers have been sent out, and the staff at Vasaloppet have had an internal training day focused on gender equality.

”Much of it has been about communication, inspiring and lowering barriers, but there are also practical measures. The initiative to have separate portable toilets with free menstrual products during Vasaloppet’s Winter Week received a lot of attention and appreciation. We have also reviewed and updated the seeding rules for Vasaloppet and Tjejvasan as they relate to pregnancy,” says Lena Hermansson.

During the year, Vasaloppet has also collaborated with the Facebook group ”VasanFörMargit”. This group started as a private initiative to get more women to participate in Vasaloppet as a tribute to Margit Nordin, the first woman to participate in the classic race in 1923.

”Vasan for Margit has become an appreciated online forum where many different topics are discussed. Both beginners and more experienced skiers share tips, advice, and inspiration, and we hope to continue the collaboration,” says Lena Hermansson.

The next step in the ”More women on the track” project focuses on Vasaloppet’s Summer Week with its cycling and running races. Here too, more women choose to participate in the shorter races, and especially running races have a more even gender distribution. In Ultravasan 45 in 2022, 48.4 percent of participants were women; in Trailvasan 30, they were 63.4 percent, while Ultravasan 90 had 27.5 percent women. In the cycling races, Cykelvasan 90 stands out with only 13.4 percent female participants.

”We know we will need to work on Cykelvasan 90, and that is already in progress. For example, there are plans to form special start groups for women, which we believe may inspire more people to try out the largest mountain bike race in the Nordics,” says Lena Hermansson.

Note:
The Vasaloppet numbers are still preliminary as they can be influenced by factors such as elite participants, foreign travel groups and sponsored start places that are not currently booked on the individual level. In addition, start places can be bought and sold up until the start of the race.