Vasaloppet launches Hemmavasan 2020

”Now that our participants cannot come to us, Vasaloppet will have to come home with them instead,” says Eva-Lena Frick, Vasaloppet’s CEO.

Registration for Vasaloppet Summer Week 2020 races was paused on April 3 as it was then unclear how the coronavirus pandemic would affect the summer events. Based on the Public Health Agency’s updated guidelines for the summer, which were presented on Thursday, Vasaloppet has now decided not to hold the Summer Week 2020 physically in the Vasaloppet Arena and instead work to motivate participants towards exercise by offering them a goal for their training in Hemmavasan.

The around 18,000 registered participants for Vasaloppet’s Summer Week 2020 will now have a few options to choose from. For example they can move their registration to next year while also participating in Hemmavasan 2020.
”It feels exciting to present and offer Hemmavasan to our participants who have trained and prepared for the Summer Week 2020. Even if it cannot be on location in the Vasaloppet Arena we are giving the chance to reach a finish line in August,” says Eva-Lena Frick.

A digital Vasaloppet Arena

The Hemmavasan concept is based on participants downloading the free app ”Hemmavasan” which will be presented during the summer, and completing their race no matter where in the world they may be; on their favourite paths in the forests, the streets in town, along small beachside roads or on the local exercise trail. Via the app participants will get from the start in Sälen or Oxberg, through the classic checkpoints and down to the finish line portal in Mora in the digital Vasaloppet Arena. Supporters and those interested can also follow participants directly via the app and see where they’re at and how far they’ve come in their race.

Green light for Vasaloppstrippeln 2020

One happy piece of news is that everyone registered for Vasaloppstrippeln 2020, where you ski, cycle and run Vasaloppet during one and the same calendar year, will be able to complete it through Hemmavasan. Vasaloppet’s popular relay races will however not be possible in Hemmavasan. That’s why all registrants in Vasastafetten and Vasakvartetten will be offered an individual start place in one of the Hemmavasan races.

Live broadcast at Vasaloppet.TV

The start for Hemmavasan will be 09:00 on Saturday, August 15. Vasaloppet will be active all day with a twelve-hour live broadcast in Vasaloppet.TV from a studio at the Vasaloppet finish line. In the broadcast you can follow participants around the country and world, get live reports and preparation tips from our Kranskulla and Kransmas and other guests and experts in the studio. Several elite skiers and celebrities will also broadcast their races live, among them Jenny and Susanna Kallur who are aiming for Vasaloppstrippeln 45 and participating in Hemmavasan Cykel 45 and Hemmavasan Ultra 45; and last year’s winner of Cykelvasan 90, Emil Lindgren.

Hemmavasan – an exercise race

Hemmavasan will be available for cycling and running at various distances and it will be completed as an exercise race; no official winner will be named but the times and results will be registered at vasaloppet.se as usual. Participants can complete one of the races or multiple ones between Saturday, August 15 and Saturday, August 22, but the big Hemmavasan day with live broadcasts at Vasaloppet.TV will be Saturday, August 15.
”We’re hoping that our participants will continue training and cross the finish line with us around the country in Hemmavasan this August. A warm welcome!” says Eva-Lena Frick.

Registration for Vasaloppet’s Summer Week 2021 opens as early as June 17, 2020, and  those who register for a race next summer no later than August 22 at 15:00 will also get a start place in Hemmavasan 2020.

Vasaloppet’s Summer Week attracts about 30,000 registrants every year.

FACTS Hemmavasan August 15–22, 2020

The following races are included:

Hemmavasan Cykel 90 (bike 94 km)
Hemmavasan Cykel 45 (bike 45 km)
Hemmavasan Cykel 30 (bike 32 km)
Hemmavasan Cykel 10 (bike 10 km)
Hemmavasan Ultra 90 (walk, jog, run 90 km)
Hemmavasan Ultra 45 (walk, jog, run 45 km)
Hemmavasan Trail 30 (walk, jog, run 30 km)
Hemmavasan Trail 10 (walk, jog, run 10 km)

Choices for registered participants

On Tuesday, June 9 participants registered for Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2020 will get an email with all the information about Hemmavasan. During the period of June 9–16 they can choose how to use their start place with the following alternatives:

Move your start place to summer 2021, get a start in Hemmavasan 2020 and a 50% discount on a start in Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2021.

You have the opportunity of one or multiple exciting challenges and registered results both for the Summer Week 2020 and 2021. Hemmavasan has the same status as our regular races on location and it’s counted as part of Vasaloppstrippeln. At the same time you’ll secure your start place in Vasaloppet’s Summer Week 2021 already and get a goal for your training.

And if you’re eager to try a ski race we’ll also offer a 50 percent discount for Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2021. (Vasaloppet and Stafettvasan not included).

Give your whole or half your registration fee and help us develop Vasaloppet, get a start in Hemmavasan 2020 and 50 percent off a start in Vasaloppet’s Summer Week 2021.

If you choose to waiver your registration fee, in full or in half, your contribution will enable us to keep supporting sports activities, development and Vasaloppet Arena maintenance, and allow us to create unique experiences for all Vasaloppet participants in the future. You will get a start in Hemmavasan 2020, which has the same status as our regular races on location and it’s counted as part of Vasaloppstrippeln.

If you give the whole registration fee you will also get a 50 percent discount on a race in Vasaloppet’s Summer Week 2021 (Vasastafetten and Vasakvartetten not included.)
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For those not interested in moving their start place to the Vasaloppet Summer Week 2021, and who doesn’t wish to participate in Hemmavasan 2020 or take advantage of our registration discounts for next year, Vasaloppet will offer a full refund of the registration fee.