For Vasaloppet, seeding is a way to rank participants at the start based on their skiing speed, to achieve a smoother pace and less overtaking during the race. Around 15,000 skiers take part in Vasaloppet each year, with eleven start groups in Berga by: the elite group at the front and group 10 at the back. The better your results, the further forward you\u2019ll start.<\/p>\n\n
Seeding is based on participants’ previous results, either from certain Vasaloppet races or from other approved seeding races. If a participant has no previous results, they start in group 10, but under the rule introduced in 2024, simply completing a seeding race qualifies you to start in at least group 9 that year.
\u201cWhen you complete a seeding race, your skiing has come a long way and you have shown that you can handle elements like technique, distance, and varying weather conditions. That\u2019s something we want to encourage,\u201d says Cathrine M\u00f6rk, Vasaloppet\u2019s seeding coordinator.<\/p>\n\n
Around 40 percent of participants ski Vasaloppet for the first time each year, meaning that many start in group 10. With this rule, Vasaloppet saw a better spread of participants in the back groups last winter, resulting in a smoother overall flow.
\u201cWe believe this will be an extra incentive for participants to take part in a seeding race. Doing so gives you valuable experience that will be a huge advantage when it\u2019s time for the 90 km Vasaloppet,\u201d says Cathrine M\u00f6rk.<\/p>\n\n
Facts about seeding races<\/strong> New:<\/strong> From 2026, both Nattvasan 45 and Nattvasan 90 will count as official seeding races for Vasaloppet. Other Vasaloppet Winter Week races that count for seeding are: Vasaloppet, \u00d6ppet Sp\u00e5r Sunday, \u00d6ppet Sp\u00e5r Monday 90 (start groups 2\u20139), \u00d6ppet Sp\u00e5r Monday 45 (start groups 2\u20139), Vasaloppet 45 and Tjejvasan.<\/p>\n\n Criteria for additional seeding races for Vasaloppet:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
There are around 50 long-distance ski races in Sweden and abroad that qualify as seeding races for Vasaloppet. These are published during November\/December in the calendar at vasaloppet.se<\/p>\n\n