According to a press release from the Vasaloppet organization, millions of people from around the world will tune in to watch the race on TV. There are a record number of foreign participants, the age limit for participation has been lowered, there will be an opening ceremony before the start, and participants will experience an additional historical checkpoint between Risberg and Evertsberg.

Vasaloppet now joins the exclusive collection of major international sporting events that have been held for 100 years or more. One can think of events such as Wimbledon, Kentucky Derby, Tour de France, FA Cup, Stanley Cup, British Open, World Series, Indy 500, Giro d’Italia… But with the difference that anyone can sign up and participate in Vasaloppet.

Since the first race in 1922, Vasaloppet has recorded 624.559 finishes; put together across the 99 races, participants have skied a distance equivalent to 1.405 laps around the Earth or 73 round trips to the moon. Counting all the different Vasaloppet ski races over the years, a total of 1.543.461 skiers have completed their race. If we also include all the finishes in the summer races since 2008, 1.813.643 finishes in Mora have been recorded (after Vasaloppet’s Summer Week in 2023).

Check out all the details about the world’s largest long-distance ski race happening this weekend.

VASALOPPET QUICK FACTS
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 2024
START: Vasaloppet start, Berga By, Sälen
START TIME: 08:00 CET
FINISH: The finish line portal at the belfry in Mora
DISTANCE: 90km, classic technique
FOLLOW PARTICIPANTS: The official Vasaloppet app 
LIVE BROADCAST: On SC PLAY, radio, TV and streaming (see below)
FIRST RACE: 1922
CANCELLED: 1932, 1934 and 1990
THIS IS RACE NUMBER: 100
REIGNING CHAMPIONS: Emil Persson (SWE) – Lager 157 Ski Team, and Emilie Fleten (NOR) – Team Ramudden
REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS 2024: 15.800 (Total of 60.000 across all of Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2024)
RECORD NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 15,709 started in 2010
HILL PRIZE: Evertsberg 47km
OTHER SPRINT PRICES: Smågan 11km, Mångsbodarna 24km, Risberg 36km, Oxberg 62km, Hökberg 71km, Eldris 81km
SKI CLASSICS CLIMB: The highest point of Vasaloppet (528 meters above sea level) after 3km
SKI CLASSICS SPRINT: Smågan 11km, Evertsberg 47km
NEXT YEAR: Registration for the 101^st Vasaloppet on March 2, 2025, opened on Thursday, February 22, 2024.
WEBSITE: vasaloppet.se/en

History
Gustav Eriksson’s adventure in Dalarna took place during the winter of 1520–21. On June 6, 1523, he was elected King of Sweden – as Gustav Vasa. The first Vasaloppet took place in 1922. This year will see the 100th Vasaloppet, which is also the 28th with a special competition class for women (started in 1997). Since 1948 the race has always run on the first Sunday of March, except in 2015 when the race ran on the second Sunday because of the World Ski Championships in Falun.

The first live TV broadcast of Vasaloppet took place in 1966. This will be the 47th time that Vasaloppet (in part or in its entirety) is transmitted live, and it’s the 42nd time that the Vasaloppet start is broadcast live on television. 1973 was the first year with a live broadcast in color. Since 1992 Vasaloppet has been shown live every year.

Robin Bryntesson is making his debut as an elite skiing reporter and will provide reports from near the front. Artist Klara Hammarström and comedian Måns Möller will be featured as skiing reporters you can follow along throughout Vasaloppet.

Opening of the 100th Vasaloppet
07:15–08:00 CET – Vasaloppet start, Berga by. Opening speeches by the Malung-Sälen municipal councilor and by the chairman of Sälens IF. Presentation of the Bol-Bengt scholarship and traditional herding calls by Agneta Stolpe and Ann-Sofi Nilsson.

The extra checkpoint 2024
At an additional checkpoint, beyond the seven regular Vasaloppet checkpoints, participants and spectators will be transported 100 years back in time. The checkpoint will be set up between Risberg and Evertsberg, just before the Evertsberg lakes, in a historical environment with open fires and torches. There will be pine branch decorations, functionaries in period clothing, and horses and sleds. The focus is on the experience, and no extra food or drinks will be served; participants can instead enjoy those at the regular Vasaloppet checkpoints.

Lowered age limit
The Swedish Ski Association decided ahead of the 2023/24 season to remove the distance restriction for younger juniors (men/women aged 17–18). According to previous regulations, this age category could only ski a maximum of 50km in a competition class, meaning that you could participate in Vasaloppet from the calendar year you turned 19. Now, there is no upper limit in the distance table when an athlete reaches junior age, meaning that you are eligible at age 17 to obtain a FIS code for international competition and thus, with current regulations, you’re able to move up to a senior class with unlimited competition distances. Hence, you can now participate in Vasaloppet from the year you turn 17 (this year, that means being born in 2007 or earlier).

The youngest person on the 2024 start list is Olof Sundin (born 2007-09-23). He will be younger than Alvar Myhlback when he participated in Vasaloppet 2023. The youngest woman in Vasaloppet 2024 is Ester Borg (2007-11-23), becoming the youngest woman ever in Vasaloppet.

The average age in Vasaloppet 2024 is 43.0 years.

More women than ever
20.5 percent of the registered participants in Sunday’s event are women, which is the highest percentage ever.

Start list
RESULTS.VASALOPPET.SE/2024
(The elite start group is ”Elit,” after which there are ten additional start groups.)

Winners
The last ten Vasaloppet winners, women
2014 Laila Kveli, Norway
2015 Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland
2016 Katerina Smutná, Czech Republic
2017 Britta Johansson Norgren, Sweden
2018 Lina Korsgren, Sweden
2019 Britta Johansson Norgren, Sweden
2020 Lina Korsgren, Sweden
2021 Lina Korsgren, Sweden
2022 Astrid Öyre Slind, Norway
2023 Emilie Fleten, Norway

The last ten Vasaloppet winners, men
2014 John Kristian Dahl, Norway
2015 Petter Eliassen, Norway
2016 John Kristian Dahl, Norway
2017 John Kristian Dahl, Norway
2018 Andreas Nygaard, Norway
2019 Tore Björset Berdal, Norway
2020 Petter Eliassen, Norway
2021 Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Norway
2022 Andreas Nygaard, Norway
2023 Emil Persson, Sweden

Last year’s results
Only eight different men’s victors and four different women’s victors have managed to defend their Vasaloppet win the next year. Most recently, John Kristian Dahl 2017 and Lina Korsgren 2021. Ten times in the men’s class (since 1922) and four times in the women’s class (introduced in 1997), the person who finished second in Vasaloppet won the race the following year; something Emil Persson accomplished last year when he ended a ten-year streak of Norwegian men’s victors.

Results Vasaloppet 2023, women
1 Emilie Fleten (NOR), Team Ramudden, 4.04.08
2 Silje Øyre Slind (NOR), Team Aker Daehlie, 4.06.41
3 Ida Dahl (SWE), Team Engcon, 4.08.08
4 Magni Smedås (NOR), Team Eksjöhus, 4.09.21
5 Astrid Öyre Slind (NOR), Team Aker Daehlie, 4.11.22
6 Anikken Gjerde Alnes (NOR), Team Ragde Charge, 4.13.28
7 Jenny Larsson (SWE), Team Ragde Charge, 4.14.02
8 Kati Roivas (FIN), Team Naeringsbanken Stora Enso, 4.14.05
9 Hanna Lodin (SWE), Ski Team Göhlins, 4.18.16
10 Sandra Schützová (CZE), Vltava Fund Ski Team, 4.18.44

Results Vasaloppet 2023, men
1 Emil Persson (SWE), Lager 157 Ski Team, 3.37.43
2 Andreas Nygaard (NOR), Team Ragde Charge, 3.37.43
3 Kasper Stadaas (NOR), Team Ragde Charge, 3.37.44
4 Petter Stakston (NOR), Team Aker Daehlie, 3.37.45
5 Johan Hoel (NOR), Team Ragde Charge, 3.37.49
6 Joar Andreas Thele (NOR), Team Ragde Charge, 3.37.59
7 Oskar Kardin (SWE), Team Ragde Charge, 3.37.59
8 Alvar Myhlback (SWE), Lager 157 Ski Team, 3.38.00
9 Max Novak (SWE), Team Aker Daehlie, 3.38.01
10 Karstein Johaug (NOR), Team Ragde Charge, 3.38.01

Also Read: Unveiling the favorites for Vasaloppet’s 100th edition

Ski Classics
The international cross-country cup Ski Classics, broadcast live on Swedish Television, has run ever since 2012. The overall standings currently show a Norwegian lead on both the women’s and men’s side.

Standings in Ski Classics Pro Tour Champion 2023/24, men:
1 Kasper Stadaas (NOR), Team Ragde Charge, 1390 points
2 Johan Hoel (NOR), Team Ragde Charge, 1042
3 Axel Jutterström (SWE), Team Eksjöhus, 929
4 Thomas Ødegaarden (NOR), Team Eksjöhus, 859
5 Andreas Nygaard (NOR), Team Ragde Charge, 850
6 Runar Skaug Mathisen (NOR), Lager 157 Ski Team, 779
7 Thomas Bing (GER), eD system Silvini Team, 737
8 Morten Eide Pedersen (NOR), Team Eksjöhus, 733
9 Emil Persson (SWE), Lager 157 Ski Team, 728
10 Amund Riege (NOR), Team Ramudden, 700

Standings in Ski Classics Pro Tour Champion 2023/24, women:
1 Emilie Fleten (NOR), Team Ramudden, 1510 points
2 Kati Roivas (FIN), Team Eksjöhus, 1166
3 Sofie Elebro (SWE), Team Eksjöhus, 923
4 Karolina Hedenström (SWE), Lager 157 Ski Team, 886
5 Anikken Gjerde Alnes (NOR), Team Ragde Charge, 832
6 Ida Dahl (SWE), Team Engcon, 811
7 Jenny Larsson (SWE), Team Ragde Charge, 778
8 Hanna Lodin (SWE), Team Engcon, 759
9 Magni Smedås (NOR), Team Eksjöhus, 695
10 Silje Øyre Slind (NOR), Team Aker Dæhlie, 680

Remaining Ski Classics Pro Toru events after Vasaloppet:
Saturday, March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
Saturday, April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 40km
Sunday, April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
Saturday, April 13, 2024 – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

View the Ski Classics Live Sessions from February 28, with interviews ahead of Vasaloppet 2024

WATCH HERE

Record-breaking prize money
The flower ceremony for the top three finishers takes place at the belfry approximately ten minutes after the third woman crosses the finish line. The official awards ceremony for Vasaloppet 2024 will be held at 15:00 at Mora-Nisse’s Square in the finish area. Training scholarships will be awarded to the top 15 men and the top 15 women. The prize sum is the same in the men’s and women’s classes.

The first prize (for both men and women) is a gold medal, a green salal leaf garland, a big red Dalecarlian horse, and a cheque of 100.000 SEK, the biggest amount so far. In addition, the victors receive the sponsors’ honorary award, a brass cast ship’s bell, awarded this year by Ahlsell. The men’s class winner will also get the Kranskulla honorary award, an embroidered pillow. (The Kransmas honorary award was given at Tjejvasan). The women’s champion receives a pair of twine-knitted mittens with a “Vasaloppet 2024” embroidery from Mora Hemslöjd.

There are seven sprint prizes for both men and women: 10.000 SEK in Evertsberg (The Hill Prize) and 5.000 SEK at the six other checkpoints: Smågan, Mångsbodarna, Risberg, Oxberg, Hökberg, and Eldris.
The total prize sum for Vasaloppet 2024 is 620.000 SEK. If a participant sets a new record time in the men’s or women’s class of Vasaloppet, they will also be awarded a 50.000 SEK record bonus. The current record time for women is 3.50.06 (Astrid Øyre Slind, 2022). The current record time for men is 3.28.18 (Tord Asle Gjerdalen, 2021).

Placement medals – gold, silver, and bronze – are awarded to those who come first, second, and third. Participants who finish within the winning time plus 50 percent are awarded the Vasaloppet achievement medal. Everyone who completes Vasaloppet gets a diploma and a participation medal. This year’s medals have a special design inspired by older Vasaloppet medals.

Ski Classics has a” climb prize” at the course’s highest point, 528 meters above sea level, three kilometers after the start. The first seven men and women to reach this height get points in the Climb competition. Ski Classics also keeps track of sprints in Smågan and Evertsberg; the first seven men and women to reach those checkpoints get points in the Sprint competition.

No Grand Slam this year
For the 2020/21 season, Ski Classics launched ”The Grand Classics” which includes the four big events: Marcialonga in Italy, Jizerská50 in the Czech Republic, Vasaloppet in Sweden and Birkebeinerrennet in Norway. These four races are valued higher in Ski Classics: Winners get 300 points in the overall cup, compared to 200 points for other races. If a skier wins all four in one and the same season, they make a Grand Slam and win 100.000 Euros. So far in history, no skier has managed to win all four races during the same season, not since Ski Classics started nor before. Since Jizerská50 2024 was cancelled, no one can win a Grand Slam this year.

The 100th Kranskulla and 36th Kransmas
This year’s Kranskulla is Elsa Hermansson (Kranskulla no. 100) and Kransmas is Gustav Johnsson (Kransmas no. 36), both are elite ski orienteers from IFK Mora.

Participant numbers from different counties
The participant numbers from different Swedish counties in Vasaloppet 2024 were, as of this past Monday: Stockholm 2.610, Västra Götaland 2.006, Dalarna 781, Skåne 634, Uppsala 622, Östergötland 527, Västerbotten 488, Jönköping 455, Halland 432, Gävleborg 392, Jämtland 366, Värmland 355, Örebro 344, Norrbotten 326, Västernorrland 320, Västmanland 262, Kronoberg 230, Södermanland 220, Kalmar 181, Blekinge 120, Gotland 29. Alterations may be made up until the start and statistics are not final.

Record number of foreign participants
More than 4.800 of Vasaloppet’s registered participants in 2024 are from 52 nations other than Sweden. The 20 countries with most foreign representation is: Norway 948, Czech Republic 769, Finland 675, Germany 573, Denmark 430, Italy 305, Estonia 253, Switzerland 187, Austria 111, France 93, Netherlands 93, Iceland 80, USA 70, Poland 46, Slovakia 42, UK 37, Slovenia 28, Canada 27, Belgium 15, Latvia 14. Alterations may be made up until the start and statistics are not final.

Vasaloppet 2024 on TV around the world
Ski Classics Season XV is shown by the following TV broadcasters: SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), Czech TV (Czech Republic), WB Discovery (Finland), TVP (Poland), SKY/RTTR (Italy), Servus TV (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), beIN Sports (Australia, Turkey, Canada, USA). Vasaloppet 2024 is also broadcast live by Ski Classics on SC PLAY with English commentary.

WATCH HERE

Number bibs and leader vests in Vasaloppet 2024

• Vasaloppet has different number series for different start groups. Women have yellow number bibs. Men have white number bibs. Veterans, who have skied at least 30 races, have orange personalised number bibs. Some participants also have special vests to show that they’re in the lead of one of the Ski Classics bib competitions.
• The women’s elite now has the prefix F (female) before the start number in the start lists. The men’s elite has the prefix M (male) before their start numbers in the start lists. Veterans now have the prefix V (veteran).
• The first 50 women and 100 men in Vasaloppet 2023 have last year’s placement as their start number, meaning F1–F50 for the women and M1–M100 for the men. Other elite women are assigned start numbers from F51 and up. Other elite men are assigned start numbers M101–M300. Other men and women are are assigned start numbers starting at 1 000.
• Participants have also been offered to purchase a personalized number bib vest with their first and last names printed on both the front and back. Over 2.000 personalized bibs have been ordered for the 100th Vasaloppet.

Ski Classics Bib Holders, women:
Yellow bib CHAMPION: Emilie Fleten (NOR), Team Ramudden
Green bib SPRINT: Emilie Fleten (NOR), Team Ramudden
Red/black chequered bib CLIMB: Emilie Fleten (SWE), Team Ramudden
Pink bib YOUTH: Karolina Hedenström (SWE), Lager 157 Ski Team

Ski Classics Bib Holders, men:
Yellow bib CHAMPION: Kasper Stadaas (NOR), Team Ragde Charge
Green bib SPRINT: Amund Hoel (SWE), Team Engcon
Red/black chequered bib CLIMB: Kasper Stadaas (NOR), Team Ragde Charge
Pink bib YOUTH: Axel Jutterström (SWE), Team Eksjöhus
Grey bib VETERAN: Stanislav Rezác (CZE), Slavia Pojistovna Sport Team

Vasaloppet’s veterans
To call yourself a veteran, you must complete a Vasaloppet and/or Öppet Spår according to Vasaloppet’s rules for 30 years (only one race per year counts). From 2020 on, you may also count Nattvasan 90. In Vasaloppet, veterans start in their own row in start group 5 (closest to the wall).

Gösta Lönnelid, Mora, skied Öppet Spår on Monday and thereby completed his 61st race – more than anyone else. Bengt Eriksson, Sälen, and Börje Karlsson, Landsbro, have both skied 60 races. Four participants have completed 55 races, two of whom completed their 55th race this past Monday; Håkan Mossberg, Kopparberg, and Erik Berglund, Viksjöfors. READ MORE ABOUT VASALOPPET VETERANS

Celebrities in Vasaloppet 2024

• Aron Andersson, adventurer and lecturer
• Melker Andersson, chef, restaurateur
• Ingvild Aurdal, fifth place in Ultravasan 45 2023
• Fredrik Balkåsen, former ski jumper, Swedish Championship gold 2011
• Christian Bauer, purchasing manager ICA Sweden, recently wed to Pernilla Wahlgren
• Lasse Beischer, actor
• Lars Berger, Norwegian former cross-country skier/biathlete, 3 World Championship golds in cross-country and 1 in biathlon
• Yavar Biranvand, Swedish bronze medallist in para cross-country running 2023, seventh in Ultravasan 45 2022
• Annelie Birkeholm, former rower, participated in the 1984 Olympics
• Jens Boisen-Möller, Danish Olympic bronze medallist in sailing 1992
• Dag Bredberg, former ice hockey player, Swedish Championship gold 1983 with Djurgården
• Johan de Jong Skierus, engaged to Sarah Sjöström
• Mats E. Djuse, horse racer, third in Elitloppet 2021
• Hanna Eriksson, Kranskulla 2016
• Henrik Eriksson Järheim, Vasaloppet winner 2001
• Jan Friis-Mikkelsen, Danish TV chef, known from ”Hela Danmark bakar”
• Manne Forssberg, influencer & prolific runner
• Arnt-Christian ”Ante” Furuberg, para skier (sit-ski)
• Birger Fält, Vasaloppet expert, former national team racewalker
• Hans Gerremo, former CEO SLAO
• Cajsa Grape, European sled dog racing champion 2016
• Peter Göransson, Vasaloppet winner 1998
• Carina Hammarstrand, aiming for her 200th Vasaloppet finish in the 100th race
• Klara Hammarström, artist and skiing reporter for SVT
• John Hassler, economist and professor, government climate policy investigator 2023
• Joakim Jerring, grandnephew of Sven Jerring
• Kristina Karlsson, Kranskulla 1977 (then named Christina Andersson)
• Caroline Kejbert, Swedish reality TV star, known from ”Bonde söker fru” and ”Bondeparet”
• Joakim Kullberg, Kransmas 2018
• Markus Leijon, Kransmas 2005
• Henrik Lenngren, journalist and author of ”90 Women and Men in Forefathers’ Footsteps”
• Julia Limby, Kranskulla 2006
• Elias ”Elajjaz” Lönn, gaming star
• Öystein Löseth, Norwegian business executive, former CEO of Vattenfall
• Marcus Magnertoft, former ice hockey player, Swedish Championship gold 1994 with Malmö
• Måns Möller, comedian and skiing reporter for SVT
• Mikael Niemi, author, August Prize winner 2000
• Nicole Nordin, entrepreneur, formerly engaged to Peter Forsberg
• Erik Norman, great-great-grandson of Anders Pers who came up with the idea of Vasaloppet
• Henrik Norman, actor, Vasaloppet’s ceremonial speaker 2024
• Caspar Opitz, the Swedish Media Ombudsman
• Cristina Paluselli, Vasaloppet winner 2006, World Championship bronze 2001
• Danny Pedersen and Tim Lindqvist, YouTube duo
• Eva Petersson, Kranskulla 1985 (then named Hermansson)
• Kerrin Petty Nilsson, top woman in Vasaloppet 1994, winner 1998
• Franck Piccard, French former alpine skier with, among other titles, Olympic gold in Super-G 1988
• Afaf Radhison, Vasaloppet’s ceremonial speaker 2023
• Per Erik ”Peken” Rönnestrand, coach of the Swedish canoe team
• Joel Snickars, sports journalist
• Victor Sticko, Kransmas 2019
• Paul Svensson, TV chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author
• Marko Säävälä, skiing reporter for Radiosporten
• Axel Teichmann, German former cross-country skier, 2 World Championship golds, 5 silvers, 1 bronze, 2 Olympic silvers, overall World Cup winner 2004/05
• Anders Ådahl, Member of Parliament
• Johan Öhagen, Kransmas 2010

Ban on littering
If a participant is found to have littered in or along the Vasaloppet course (which is a nature reserve) then he or she will receive a time penalty of 15 minutes. This rule was introduced in 2017. Disposing of litter is permitted in three different ways: 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. For elite skiers Vasaloppet holds special dialogue, requiring that each team takes responsibility for, and picks up, any of their waste that is thrown along the track.

Ban on ski wax with fluorine
Starting this year, Vasaloppet, like all other races in Vasaloppet’s Winter Week, has banned the use of fluoro wax.

Weather
The coldest temperature at a Vasaloppet start in Sälen was -30 degrees Celsius, measured in 1935 and 1987. The warmest starting temperature, +4.5 degrees Celsius, was in 2015. Over the 99 years that Vasaloppet has run, it’s been below zero at the start 86 times.

Vasaloppet’s Summer Week 2024
Vasaloppet doesn’t just have a Winter Week. Since 2009, there’s also a Vasaloppet Summer Week with twelve mountain bike and running races, such as Cykelvasan 90 and Ultravasan 90.

Vasaloppstrippeln x3
Vasaloppstrippeln means completing three different types of Vasaloppet during one and the same calendar year. The participant skis in Vasaloppet’s Winter Week and runs and cycles the same distance in Vasaloppet’s Summer Week in August. The distances are 90, 45, and 30 kilometers.

Also Read: Complete competition program for Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2024