Vasaloppet in English - About the race

You’ll pack the food and equipment you think you’ll need in your backpack. Darkness and silence close in around you the moment you leave the start in Oxberg. Only stars and headlamps show the way.

Rules

The race is a freestyle race, which means you can choose between classic skiing and skate. You can go individually or in couples.

If you participate as couple – in a team of two – the distance between you at the finish line must be no greater than 20 seconds. Both participants must complete the race in order for the team to get a valid finish time. The team shall finish with the same skis they started with. Changing skis with one another within the team is allowed. So-called roping, participants linking up with a rope to pull each other forwards, is not allowed.

If a participant in a team chooses to break off their race, the other participant can complete their race. The person who breaks off must leave their chip with a functionary at the break off bus by the nearest checkpoint. The team will then be registered as having broken off the race. Anyone who continues to the finish line must contact Vasaloppet’s customer service in the days following the race to register as an individual participant, and to get a result. Customer service can be reached on telephone +46(0250-392 00 and e-mail info@vasaloppet.se.

The race is an leisure race where no winner is crowned. Swedish Ski Association rules for leisure races apply. Read the rules in their entirety at the Swedish Ski Association’s website.

Swedish Ski Association’s website

Membership in ski club

You don’t need to be member of a Swedish ski club to participate in the race.

Minimum age

You may participate in the race from the year you turn 11.

Equipment requirements

All participants are required to be equipped with:

headlamp
liquid container that you can fill up at the checkpoints (as we do not provide disposable cups).

Other equipment we recommend bringing in your backpack or similar:

one litre of fluid in a cold-resistant container
first aid equipment
energy bar or similar
extra battery for the headlamp
cellphone.

Ban on fluorinated ski wax

Ski wax and top-coating products that contain fluorine are prohibited in all our ski races starting from 2024. Their use can result in a starting ban or disqualification. Read more on the Swedish Ski Association’s website.

Swedish Ski Association’s website
How participants skis are tested >

Time penalty for littering in the Vasaloppet Arena

It is allowed to throw garbage in three different ways during Vasaloppet’s Winter Week. If you will be caught by throwing debris otherwise you may be penalized with a time penalty of 15 minutes.

You must throw litter:

in the bins at the Vasaloppet checkpoints.
in the marked littering zones between each Vasaloppet checkpoint.
where you as a participant know that a team leader or associate will pick up what you throw.

False pretences

A competitor will automatically be disqualified if he/she participates in the competition under false pretences such as starting under false name/with false timing chip or practice any unsportsmanlike behaviour. The Race Director and/or Race Secretary have authority to disqualify, penalize or ban from participation if evidence of rule infraction is submitted after the race is completed and after the Jury has finished their work.