Nation by nation – great interest again for Vasaloppet's Winter Week 2022

For the first time in two years, Vasaloppet can arrange exercise races and competitions as usual again – and there is great interest in participating. Today, nearly two weeks after Sweden lifted its restrictions, almost 50,000 skiers are registered for one of twelve races in the Vasaloppet Winter Week 2022. At the same time, those who cannot get to Dalarna can still complete their race at home – in Sweden or around the world. It's also possible to register right up until the start for the races that are not fully booked. Here we will present some numbers from this year's registration statistics.

Vasaloppet's Summer Week 2020 and 2021 both had to be replaced with Hemmavasan and Vasaloppet's Winter Week 2021 became Vasaåket. In 2021, victors could be crowned in elite versions of Tjejvasan, Vasaloppet, Cykelvasan 90, Ultravasan 90 and Ultravasan 45, but this year marks the first time since 2020 that there will be exercise races and competitions as usual in the Vasaloppet Arena!

Sweden lifted its covid restrictions on February 9. Of course, Vasaloppet still has a close dialogue with the relevant authorities and retains some adjustments in order to carry out the Winter Week 2022 in a safe way. Read more here:
https://www.vasaloppet.se/en/covid-19/

Almost 50,000 registered– registration is open up until the start
On February 21, 48,200 skiers from all counties in Sweden and 62 other nations are registered for one of the twelve races in the Vasaloppet Winter Week 2022.

Preliminary numbers show that over half (58 percent) of the registered participants intend to ski the whole distance from Sälen to Mora; in other words they are registered for a 90 kilometre race: Vasaloppet, Öppet Spår Sunday, Öppet Spår Monday or Nattvasan 90. 42 percent are registered for the shorter races.

The registered participants are aged between 8 and 90 years old. The average age is 43.8 years. 66 percent are men and 34 percent women.

59 percent of those registered have started in a Vasaloppet Winter Week race before, which means that 41 percent of this year's registrants are making their debut "in forefathers' tracks". But some are extremely experienced: 413 of those registered for 90-kilometre races are so-called Vasaloppet veterans, meaning that they have skied Vasaloppet and/or Öppet Spår/Nattvasan 90 for at least 30 years. The veterans will wear a special orange number bib this year.

So far, 452 registered participants intend to tackle Vasaloppstrippeln this year, taking on a ski race in the Winter Week along with a mountain bike and running race of the same distance during the Vasaloppet Summer Week in August. Vasaloppstrippeln has three different distances to choose from: 30, 45 and 90 km.

County by county in Vasaloppet's Winter Week 2022
Stockholm – 9941 registered participants
Västra Götaland – 7028
Dalarna – 3713
Uppsala – 2367
Skåne – 2058
Jönköping – 1584
Värmland – 1575
Östergötland – 1513
Gävleborg – 1343
Halland – 1332
Örebro – 1252
Västmanland – 1196
Västerbotten – 1033
Jämtland – 1005
Västernorrland – 978
Södermanland – 954
Norrbotten – 678
Kronoberg – 595
Kalmar – 487
Blekinge – 286
Gotland – 130

Nations 2022
In total 5,871 participants from 62 countries besides Sweden are registered for Vasaloppet's Winter Week 2022. The 20 nations with most participants are:
Norway – 1325 registered participants
Denmark – 977
Finland – 671
Germany – 564
Czech Republic – 432
Switzerland – 247
Italy – 196
Estonia – 184
France – 179
The Netherlands – 174
USA – 142
Austria – 131
Iceland – 117
Russia – 100
United Kingdom – 79
Canada – 55
Poland – 53
Slovenia – 38
Belgium – 32
Spain – 21

Ten biggest sports clubs in Vasaloppet's Winter Week 2022
921 clubs have participants registered for the Winter Week. As of February 17, the ten clubs with most registrants are:
AXA Sports Club – 2349 registered participants
IK Stern – 475
IFK Mora Skidklubb – 329
IF Ski Team Skåne – 166
Nybro Skidklubb – 150
IFK Helsingborg – 127
Täby IS Skidklubb – 123
Västerås Skidklubb – 120
Uppsala Vasaloppsklubb – 109
OK Landehof – 107

Registration open up until the start
NOTE! The statistics above are from Thursday, February 17, 2022 and they are not final. All team members in Stafettvasan and Nattvasan have not yet been named, so these preliminary statistics are based on the assumption that the team members all come from the same county or country, respectively. Read more about how to register:
https://www.vasaloppet.se/en/winter/direct-registration/

Download Vasaloppet’s app!
Install the official Vasaloppet app, available all year round. Stay up-to-date on everything happening with Vasaloppet. Read more:
https://www.vasaloppet.se/en/winter/app

FACTS / Vasaloppet's Winter Week 2022
The annual Vasaloppet Winter Week consists of several different cross-country ski races over ten days, concluding with the classic Vasaloppet on the first Sunday of March. All races run on the Vasaloppet track in the Vasaloppet arena, the 90 km scenic arena between Sälen and the well-known finish portal in Mora.

The first race is Vasaloppet 30 from Oxberg to Mora, running on the first Friday. That Saturday, Tjejvasan runs the same distance as Vasaloppet 30. On Sunday, it is time for Ungdomsvasan for young people up to 16 years of age, starting in Eldris (9 km) and Hökberg (19 km).

Öppet Spår, starting in Sälen, can be skied on Sunday or Monday. Öppet Spår Monday is freestyle, so you can choose classic or skate style. On Tuesday, it's time for Vasaloppet 45, starting in Oxberg and turning along the shores of Oxbergssjön to connect with the Vasaloppet track.

Stafettvasan runs on Friday, consisting of five sections split between relay racers from Sälen to Mora. That night, Nattvasan 90, Nattvasan 45 and Nattvasan 30 start. Skate style is permitted and you can participate individually or in pairs. On Saturday, it's time for Vasaloppet 10 from Eldris to the finish. The week concludes with the world's largest long-distance ski race, the main Vasaloppet which attracts 15,800 registrants to embark on a journey along what's been called the main artery of Swedish skiing!

(In addition, there's Barnens Vasalopp in Sälen on February 26 and in Mora on March 5 for children aged 3–10. However, these two races are not included in the above statistics.)

More facts about Vasaloppet in Vasaloppet's new Facts Guide 2022 (Swedish only):
https://www.vasaloppet.se/om-oss/historia/faktaguide/

Upcoming events in the Vasaloppet Arena in the Anniversary Year of 2022 – Vasaloppet 100 years:

Vasaloppet's Winter Week 2022 (registration is open)
• Friday 25 February Vasaloppet 30 30 km, start Oxberg
• Saturday 26 February Tjejvasan 30 km, start Oxberg
• Sunday 27 February Ungdomsvasan 9 km start Eldris, 19 km start Hökberg
• Sunday 27 February Öppet Spår Sunday 90 km, start Sälen
• Monday 28 February Öppet Spår Monday 90 km, freestyle, start Sälen
• Tuesday 1 March Vasaloppet 45 45 km, start Oxberg
• Friday 4 March Stafettvasan 90 km, five-person teams, start Sälen
• Friday 4 March Nattvasan 90 90 km, individually or two-person teams, freestyle, start Sälen
• Friday 4 March Nattvasan 45 45 km, individually or two-person teams, freestyle, start Oxberg
• Friday 4 March Nattvasan 30 30 km, individually or two-person teams, freestyle, start Oxberg
• Saturday 5 March Vasaloppet 10 9 km, start Eldris
• Sunday 6 March Vasaloppet 90 km, start Sälen (fully booked)

Vasaloppet's Summer Week 2022 (registration is open)
• Friday 12 August Cykelvasan Öppet Spår 94 km, start Sälen
• Friday 12 August Cykelvasasprinten 1 km, Lindvallen, Sälen
• Saturday 13 August Cykelvasan 90 94 km, start Sälen
• Sunday 14 August Cykelvasan 45 45 km, start Oxberg
• Sunday 14 August Cykelvasan 30 32 km, start Oxberg
• Sunday 14 August Ungdomscykelvasan 32 km, start Oxberg
• Friday 19 August Trailvasan 10 10 km, start Mora
• Saturday 20 August Ultravasan 90 90 km, start Sälen
• Saturday 20 August Ultravasan 45 45 km, start Oxberg
• Saturday 20 August Trailvasan 30 30 km, start Oxberg
• Saturday 20 August Vasastafetten 90 km, running relay for ten-person teams, start Sälen
• Saturday 20 August Vasakvartetten 90 km, running relay for four-person teams, start Sälen

Vasaloppstrippeln – ski, bike and run, all in one year
Vasaloppstrippeln is a challenge where you complete three races – skiing, cycling and running – during one and the same calendar year. Choose between 90, 45 or 30 kilometres.

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High-resolution photos from Vasaloppet:
https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/vasaloppet/latest_media

Text and photos may be freely published.

For more information

Camilla Sandy, Vasaloppet Press Manager
+46 (0)70-384 95 00
camilla.sandy@vasaloppet.se

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