November 2022 Vasaloppet update in English

A record number of participants completed Vasaloppstrippeln 2022
A total of 471 participants, 237 men and 234 women, finished Vasaloppstrippeln 2022. This was the first year that Vasaloppstrippeln 30 could be completed on location in the Vasaloppet Arena and 123 participants managed that feat, while 97 finished Vasaloppstrippeln 45 and 251 participants completed Vasaloppstrippeln 90.

Vasaloppstrippeln was first possible in 2014. Today, the concept is well established across exercise Sweden. ”Completing a 90, 45 or 30 kilometre race is an achievement. How about three races in one year?” as the challenge goes. Everyone who completes Vasaloppstrippeln gets an exclusive Vasaloppstrippeln T-shirt.

To complete Vasaloppstrippeln, you have to complete a ski race during Vasaloppet’s Winter Week, followed by a bike and running race during Vasaloppet’s Summer Week, picking a distance of 90, 45 or 30 km. (Normally this must take place during one and the same calendar year, but during the pandemic people have had the chance to ”save” their ski race for the next year.) These foreigners completed Vasaloppstrippeln in 2022:

Siiri Kaaver, Rannu, Estonia
Meelis Maidla, Põlva, Estonia
Daniel Blomster, Vanda, Helsingfors-Nyland, Finland
Lukas Lindberg, Box, Helsingfors-Nyland, Finland
Jacomina Eijkelboom, Utrecht, Netherlands
Björn Kåre Gjerde, Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Beate Smetbak, Åmot, Buskerud, Norway
Andreas Løve Storm, Fausko, Oslo, Norway
Lisa Dickenmann, Tarasp, Graubünden, Switzerland
Ismael Röthlisberger, Rombach, Aargau, Switzerland
Rhodric Allen, London, Great Britain
Ramona Lindblom, Godby, Åland
Florian Eibensteiner, Zwettl An Der Rodl, Oberösterreich, Austria
Matthias Enzenhofer, Zwettl, Oberösterreich, Austria
Nathalie Schwarz, Zwettl an der Rodl, Oberösterreich, Austria

Vasaloppet wants more women in their races
Both men and women ski, run and cycle Vasaloppet’s various races – exercisers alongside elites – but male participants are still in the majority. Therefore, Vasaloppet is now initiating more active work to attract women to participate in all the different races during Vasaloppet’s Winter Week and Summer Week.

This effort to achieve a better gender balance is part of Vasaloppet’s sustainability work, based on Agenda 2030 and global goals for sustainable development. In 2022, 32 percent of participants in Vasaloppet’s various races were women. So there is still some way to go before the proportion of women and men is balanced.
”In the long term, it’s about being sustainable in our endeavour to inspire and enthuse people towards better health. We want to reach more people, regardless of whether we’re looking at Vasaloppet’s larger role of promoting public health, or the inspiring of a single individual. And, right now, we choose to focus on women,” says Johan Eriksson.

Close to 400 applications came in when Vasaloppet called for people to join a group that will help develop the events and inspire more women to participate in Vasaloppet’s ski, bike and running races. After solid work and a tough screening process, 15 people were selected and they met for two days in October in Mora for a workshop.

High marks for Vasaloppet’s Summer Week
Vasaloppet’s 100th anniversary (1922–2022) has been celebrated and another 75,000 registered participants have entered the history books as Vasaloppet sums up its 2022 activities. When the participants themselves rated their overall experience during Vasaloppet’s Summer Week 2022 in a comprehensive participant survey, they gave a rating of 4.8 on a five-point scale, five being the best.
”It’s a very nice rating and it’s been great to once again welcome all the summer participants into the Vasaloppet Arena,” says Tommy Höglund, Sport Manager at Vasaloppet.

Tourist information for those who are going to travel to Sweden
There is a lot to see and experience here! Go to Visit Sweden and Visit Dalarna for lots of tips. Here are some good links to check out:
Visit Sweden >
Read more about Dalarna >
Cross-country skiing in Sweden >
Visit Dalarna >
Cross-country skiing in Mora >
Accommodation for Vasaloppet >

Vasaloppet’s school challenge
This autumn, applications have been coming in for the sixth ever Vasaloppet school challenge. All teachers for classes in grades 4–9 who apply will receive start places in Ungdomsvasan on February 26, 2023, and one winning class will also receive complete ski equipment for all students, training help from a Vasaloppet coach, and a paid trip to Dalarna with accommodation in Mora. All to a value of at least 50,000 SEK. Vasaloppet’s school challenge is a collaboration between Vasaloppet and Swix – the goal is to give more children and young people the chance to get out on the ski slopes. The winner was class 2023: 5A from Fredtjuv Bergskolan in Ödeshög, Östergötland.

Early snow 2022
Several facilities around Sweden are shooting for early snow again this year, so you can start cross-country skiing this autumn. This is a great way to hone your technique and get ”more miles in your legs”. There are ski facilities with stored snow, early artificial snow, indoor snow or natural snow.

On the Swedish website skidspår.se, there are over 1,800 cross-country skiing facilities, coming close to a combined 5,000 ski tracks of various lengths. Here you can see the status of any ski track you might fancy today:
Skidspår.se >

Mild Mora
At Mora Ski Stadium, there is currently around 10,000 cubic metres of stored snow that will be used for an early snow premiere for both the stadium and the Vasaloppet track. The stored snow provides a good foundation for this winter’s continued snow work.
”We see a clear increased interest in getting onto snow early in the season, which is a great sign for ski sports in Sweden,” says Tommy Höglund, Vasaloppet’s Sport Manager.

The plan was to hold a ski premiere in Mora on November 4, but mild weather prevented that. Instead, snow placement started on November 14, 2022.

Ski Pass ”Arenakortet” (The Arena Card)
Many want to ski in the Vasaloppet Arena, both before and after the Vasaloppet Winter Week. In 2021–2022, over 7,000 cards were sold and sales have now opened of the season’s ”Arenakortet”.

With this ski pass you get access to all tracks in the Vasaloppet Arena, Norra Garberg and Mora Ski Stadium during the 2022–2023 season. The three track systems together constitute close to 100 kilometres of ski tracks. You can choose between day passes, weekly passes and season passes.

The Vasaloppet Arena from Hökberg to central Mora adds up to 19 kilometres of ski tracks. The Hökberg–Sälen distance is free to use. Those who only ski here and still want to give a voluntary contribution towards course management, track preparation and arena maintenance are very welcome to do so. Signs with information are put up along the Vasaloppet track.
READ MORE >

18 Official Vasaloppet Centers
Vasaloppet works with twenty official Vasaloppet Centers in Sweden and one in Norway – selected and successful facilities that have a commitment to cross-country skiing, cycling or running.
Here you will find all Official Vasaloppet Centers >

Petter is registered
Did you know that, right now, 86 people named ”Petter” are registered for one of Vasaloppet’s 2023 races?! One of these is one of the best skiers of all time, Petter Northug Jr. from Norway, making his debut in the Vasaloppet Arena on March 5. Vasaloppet extends a warm welcome to Petter and all the other Petters in 2023. (PS: Anyone not named Petter is also warmly welcome to register. There are still places left in all races.)

2023 in sports
We’re not the oldest, but we’re pretty proud of this list. In addition, there are two events that YOU can register and participate in. (Oxford is okay but we have Oxberg.)

8th FIFA Women’s World Cup
35th TJEJVASAN (The world’s biggest ski race for women)
43rd FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
57th Superbowl
80th Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1
87th The Masters, Augusta National Golf Club
91st 24 Hours of Le Mans
99th VASALOPPET
136th The Championships, Wimbledon
149th Kentucky Derby
168th The Boat Race, Oxford–Cambridge

The 99th Vasaloppet 2023 and the 100th Vasaloppet 2024
Remember that Vasaloppet 2023 will soon be fully booked. If you don’t have the time in 2023, then consider the fact that the 100th Vasaloppet runs on March 3, 2024. Registration for that race opens in March 2023.

A nice surprise gift
Looking for a birthday or Christmas present? Give away a start place for one of our races. Or buy a start place for the same race you’re participating in and gain a companion. If your friend would rather participate in a different race, it is fully possible to switch.
Gift card >

Follow Vasaloppet on Facebook and Instagram
Did you know that you can follow Vasaloppet on both Facebook and Instagram? Two channels that we continuously update with fresh photos, exciting news, fun anecdotes and general tips and tricks for all Vasaloppet enthusiasts, young and old. On Instagram you can find us @vasaloppet and on Facebook: vasaloppetofficial. Don’t miss out!