Page 251 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

WESTERN SVEALAND  249

The Vasaloppet Ski Race

The world’s longest and oldest ski race was first held in 1922 when 122 competitors skied the
90 km (56 miles) from Sälen to Mora. Today more than 15,000 skiers take on the challenge on
the first Sunday in March. The race also includes spin-off events such as TjejVasan (for women,
30 km/18 miles) and HalvVasan (half-course, 45 km/28 miles). A staff of 3,000 support the
skiers by providing blueberry soup, ski waxing and blister plasters. And all because in 1520
Gustav Vasa could not get the men of Dalarna to rise up against the Danes. Disheartened, he
fled on skis from the Danish troops towards Norway, but when the local men heard about
the Stockholm Bloodbath (see p64), they changed their minds and their two best skiers raced
to intercept their future king near Sälen.
In summer, a hiking trail follows the course from Berga in Sälen to the finish at Zorn’s
statue of Gustav Vasa in Mora.

Berga, just south of the village of Sälen, is
the starting point for the more than 15,000
skiers who are let loose in the early dawn in Evertsberg lies halfway between Sälen and Mora.
several stages, top skiers first. Here, as in many places along the route, the
competitors fortify themselves with blueberry
The first steep hills are succeeded soup. Those only skiing half the race can leave the
by flat marshland. track at this point.
Sälen Evertsberg
Smågan 47 km (29 miles)
11 km (7 miles)
Berga Ö S T E R D A L Ä LV E N
Transtrand VA N Å N Oxberg
61 km (38 miles) Hökberg
Mångsbodarna Risberg 70 km (43 miles)
24 km (15 miles) 35 km (22 miles)
V Ä S T E R D A L Ä LV E N
Mora
0 kilometres 20 90 km
(56 miles)
0 miles 10 Eldris
80 km (50 miles)

The First Vasaloppet
At Christmas 1520 Gustav Vasa fled on skis
from Mora towards Norway to escape Danish
troops. At Lima, near Sälen, local men caught Mora marks the end of the race. The winning
up with him and persuaded the future king to time is usually just over four hours, but some
turn back. Since 1922 almost 750,000 skiers entrants can take ten hours. The text on the
have repeated the achievement, albeit skiing finishing line reads: “In the footsteps of our
in the opposite direction. forefathers for the victories of tomorrow.”

For hotels and restaurants in this area see p288 and pp299–300

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