Vasaloppet
Vasaloppet (Swedish for 'the Vasa race') is an annual long distance cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March. The 90 km (56 mi) course starts in the village of Berga, just south of Sälen in western Dalarna, Sweden, and ends in the town of Mora in the central part of the province. It is the oldest cross-country ski race in the world, as well as the one with the highest number of participants.
| Vasaloppet | |
|---|---|
Jørgen Aukland, Norway, winning the 2013 men's event | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Sports event |
| Date(s) | First Sunday in March |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Sälen–Mora |
| Country | Sweden |
| Years active | 101 |
| Inaugurated | 1922 |
| Founder | Anders Pers |
| Participants | 15,800 |
| Attendance | 70,200 (2015) |
| Budget | SEK 120 million (2012) |
| Activity | Cross-country skiing |
| Organised by |
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| Sponsor | |
The race was inspired by a notable journey King Gustav Vasa made from Mora to Sälen when he was fleeing from Christian II's soldiers during the winter of 1520–1521 in the beginning of the Swedish War of Liberation. According to legend, he fled on skis. The modern competition started in 1922 and it has been a part of the Worldloppet events since 1979.