Vasaloppet moves the finish area towards the centre of town – new finish line portal to be built

For about a year Vasaloppet has, in close collaboration with Mora municipality, planned to create a new area for both the Vasaloppet Trade Fair and the finish line based on changes to the infrastructure of central Mora. With these new constructions Vasaloppet has seized the opportunity to strengthen the experience for both participants and spectators, all while the activities are moved closer to the pedestrian zone and the centre of town.
”We want to focus the party feeling and experience. The area around the Vasaloppet House and the central parks has been important for trade since the 1600s. Continuing to use the Tingshusparken and Stapelhusparken parks for our events means continuing this tradition and creating a meeting place that’s sustainable over time,” says Mats Rylander, Project Manager at Vasaloppet.”

”Mora municipality sees this as a positive. It will benefit trade in the centre of town and it goes hand in hand with the other developments in Mora. This change is in line with the thoroughfare project and other plans for Mora,” says Anna Hed, chairman of the municipal council.

”Now the festivities will spread more evenly across all of Mora,” Anna Hed of Mora municipality continues.

As a consequence of the construction work, the finish line for Vasaloppet’s various races will also move. A new finish line portal, identical to the current one, will be built ahead of the events on level with the church bells by the roundabout at Vasagatan. The finishing stretch will thus become about 100 metres shorter.
”The length of the finishing stretch by Vasagatan has changed several times throughout history even if the finish has been in more or less the same place since 1922. And the total length of the races will not change significantly since course layouts are adjusted on an almost annual basis due to ground conditions in the Vasaloppet Arena and other factors, says Mats Rylander.

The current finish line portal, which became permanent in 1986, will stay in its current place and become part of a medal square; a place where participants can receive their medals after finishing and meet up with their near and dear, take pictures and drink in the Vasaloppet feeling.

”Our current, classic finish line portal will have a continued important role as a landmark attracting visitors and tourists all year round. These steps will prolong the experience for participants who have finished, allowing them to enjoy their achievement for longer instead of immediately sending them on to collect their bags and shower. We think that this will be a boost for participants as well as spectators and locals,” says Mats Rylander.

At Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2021 the new finish line area will be used for the first time, as the construction of Genomfart Mora will then be in full swing.

Changes to Vasaloppet’s finish line area mean, among other things:

• A new, temporary finish line portal, identical to the current one, will be built up ahead of each event on level with the church bells, constructed in 1872. New stands, reminiscent of an amphitheatre, will be built around the finish.
• There will be a greater proximity to the pedestrian zone in central Mora, allowing participants to take part in local trade.
• A new trade fair tent, about 600 square metres in summer and 1600 square metres in winter, will be built in the Tingshusparken park for number bib distribution, exhibitors, stores and more.
• In the Stapelhusparken park a stage will be built to house things like award ceremonies and live commentators.
• The restaurant in the Vasaloppet Trade Fair will be removed; visitors and spectators are instead referred to restaurants and cafés in central Mora as well as temporary food services such as food trucks in Tingshusparken and by the Vasaloppet House.
• The Stranden-området area will also be used in future for logistics and Vasaloppet’s own bus traffic.

FACTS/ The length of the Vasaloppet final stretch
Even if the finish line has been in more or less the same place since 1922, the length of the finishing stretch on Vasagatan in Mora has changed several times throughout history.
– 1922 and 1923 the skiers entered Vasagatan with 100 metres left to the finish line.
– 1924–1950 the track went around the church bells and the final section on Vasagatan itself became about 160 metres long.
– 1951–1957 the track went up past Smidjegrav (currently the ice hockey arena) and onto Hantverkargatan. Participants then skied about 700 metres on Vasagatan.
– In 1958 the Vasaloppet track got its current layout over Hemulån behind the Zorn Museum and onto Vasagatan. The ”treacherously long final stretch on Vasagatan,” as it’s often been called, has been 440 metres since the finish line portal was made permanent in 1986.
– The new final stretch will be, from Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2021 and on, about 340 metres, going from the Zorn museum to the new finish line.

Top photo above: View of Vasaloppet’s new finish line area with spectator stands. Mora church and bells to the right and the new Vasaloppet Trade Fair in Tingshusparken to the left.

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