Whole or half Nattvasan, and delayed start in Stafettvasan

Cold weather has characterized the Vasaloppet Winter Week 2018 and it will affect both Stafettvasan and Nattvasan, held tomorrow, Friday, March 2. The Stafettvasan start will be delayed and for Nattvasan it has been decided that the race will take place, either over 90 km as planned, with extra security measures, or it will run over half the distance, 45 km, starting in Oxberg.

Participant safety will always be Vasaloppet’s top priority. Before Nattvasan starts on Friday, at 20:00, the world’s biggest ski relay race, Stafettvasan, will take place with 2,400 registered teams. The weather forecast currently claims that temperatures may sink to minus 25 degrees at the start in Sälen on Friday morning and Stafettvasan’s original starting times, 07:00 and 09:00, will therefore be postponed to 8:30 and 10:30.
”The forecast tells us that temperatures will rise over the course of the day and we judge that by postponing the start we will not submit participants on the first section to any more severe temperatures than necessary,” says Tommy Höglund, Vasaloppet’s Sport Manager.

Regarding Nattvasan it’s been decided that the race will take place but it’s not yet certain if it will be over the whole or half the distance. The current forecast says that Nattvasan temperatures will be around 15–20 minus. If that forecast is correct then the entire 90-kilometre Nattvasan will take place, but with extra security measures.

”For example we will ensure it’s possible to get inside, heat up and get some warm drink at all seven traditional checkpoints, and we will have additional medical staff,” says Tommy Höglund.

If a later forecast shows that temperatures may sink even lower then the Nattvasan start will be moved to Oxberg and the race will run over half the course, 45 km instead of 90 km. A final decision will be made no later than Friday morning.
”Shortening the race would mean participants would spend less time on the course, exposing them to less risk. Moving the start to Oxberg would also exclude the open marshes and colder sections of the track, such as the start in Sälen, Tennäng, as well as the long downhill slope directly after Evertsberg,” says Tommy Höglund.

Right now we’re working on informing all registered participants via Vasaloppet’s website and social channels as well as relaying safety precautions that participants should take.
”Regardless of what we, the organizers, decide, we want to emphasize that each individual has a responsibility to look to their own conditions, and those of their teammate, both based on physique and experience, and decide whether or not to participate in Nattvasan. We are right now working on supplementing our advice on how participants should equip themselves and how to approach the race,” says Tommy Höglund.

Race information

STAFETTVASAN

NATTVASAN