Programme ready for Jubileumsvasan – including route and participant guidelines

Guidelines
All guidelines are recommendations, Vasaloppet will not disqualify anyone but trusts that all 139 Jubileumsvasan participants will do their utmost to commit to the race.

Participants’ clothing and equipment should be time appropriate, wadmal (wool) and cotton clothing as well as a wool base layer is recommended. No advertising is allowed on clothing or equipment. Digital aids such as heart rate monitors and mobile phones may be used sparingly but should not be carried visibly. Headlamps and other lighting should not be used.

The footwear should either be pointed shoes of cloth or boots of felt or leather. The skis must be made of wood and they should be at least 1.5 times your body length – and prepared with tar wax. The ski binding must have a leather strap for the toe and heel and the poles must be made of wood or bamboo with large wicker baskets with leather straps, and metal tips and sleeves. The ski poles should, if possible, be long enough to reach your shoulder. Ernst Alm, the first winner of Vasaloppet, had skis that were 2.40 metres long and 55 millimetres wide and his poles were 140 centimetres.

Changing your skis and other equipment during the race is allowed. Equipment should, however, always be time appropriate. Number bibs in a traditional style will be distributed on Friday, February 11 at Olnispagården in Sälen and on the morning of the race, Saturday, February 12. The number bib must be worn visibly. The start is at Olnispagården in Sälen at 07:04 and freestyle skiing technique is allowed in Jubileumsvasan.

Route
Only about 5.8 kilometres of the ”regular” 21st century Vasaloppet track runs along the same route as the first Vasaloppet in 1922. In order to imitate the 1922 premiere race, Vasaloppet’s arena group with Anders Holmberg, project manager for the Vasaloppet Arena, has had to investigate the old roads to draw the Jubileumsvasan route. In short, this will be the route:

The Jubileumsvasan start will, just like in 1922, take place at a small field below Vasastenen, just west of the old bridge in Sälen village. Participants will ski down to the river bank and follow it south to Olnispagården where a big turn at the farm will allow them to soak up both history and culture! The route crosses the Västerdalälven river via a narrow suspension bridge, which may cause a bit of a queue as it’s only broad enough for one line of skiers. Shortly after, the route passes the old country road and starts the longest and highest ascent, going on for about 2 kilometres and leading to the highest point of the course.

The surface from Olnispa is a trail that’s been packed continuously during the winter while the last kilometres towards the first checkpoint, Mångsbodarna, will take place in the regular Vasaloppet Arena where the surface is prepared using snow groomers – an easy section.

After Mångsbodarna there will be a section where participants ski alongside horses transporting timber through the woods as they did in 1922. They will continue via the Risberg summer farm and arrive at Evertsberg, the second of the race’s three checkpoints.

Between Evertsberg and Oxberg, the first half is skied in regular Vasaloppet tracks while the second half is along the Vasaloppet 45 course but going in the ”wrong” ski direction along the Oxberg lake’s northern shore on a slightly hilly stretch prepared with a tracked vehicle. The third and final checkpoint is at the Oxberg train station.

From Oxberg, the surface will vary between packed roads, Vasaloppet Arena and railway embankments along the train tracks. The last 2 kilometres go over Prästholmen and Mora camping. Just before the Aukland bridge, the route deviates and passes the Hemulån river at Badstubacksbron’s southern bridge pier, up on Badstugatan. You then cross Stapelåkern (the current municipal house park) at the belfry and finally pass under the ”MÅL” sign by the hill with the Gustav Vasa statue.

Service, food, technology and safety
The service at Jubileumsvasan’s only three checkpoint – the original Vasaloppet checkpoints of Mångsbodarna, Evertsberg and Oxberg – will be time-appropriate and manned by people dressed in 1920s style. Participants’ personal service teams may access the official checkpoints if they are dressed in time-appropriate attire.

The checkpoints serve pancakes, cheese sandwiches, boiled eggs, coffee, broth, blueberry soup, milk and water on porcelain. Vasaloppet recommends that Jubileumsvasan participants not use modern energy products such as bars and sports drinks – instead stick to natural products inspired by the pioneers in 1922.

Modern tools and appliances (for example, battery-powered ones) should not be used regardless of where you are along the track. However, all participants will carry a GPS device, and their split times and finish times will be logged during the day on Vasaloppet’s website and app. Participants can also be followed at Vasaloppet.TV, which will broadcast live from the race throughout the day.

When darkness falls, there are functionaries along the track to help. At Vasaloppet’s checkpoints, it will be possible to abort your race. Some medical care is available at the checkpoints and there will be a final check along the track. The finish line closes when the last participant has finished. Medals and diplomas will be awarded to all.

READ ALL PARTICIPANT INTRODUCTIONS HERE >

OFFICIAL START LIST >
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JUBILEUMSVASAN’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK GROUP >

JUBILEUMSVASAN WILL BROADCAST LIVE ON VASALOPPET’S STREAMING SERVICE VASALOPPET.TV >