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Vasaloppet organizes the oldest, longest and biggest cross-country ski race in the world. Since 1922, over one million skiers have participated in the 90 K historical race between Sälen and Mora in central Sweden. Now it’s the runners’ turn to for the first time run the classic distance. On August 23, 2014 the start gun will sound on the first edition of the UltraVasan 90 K. The race will take its competitors over mires, past rivers and through the Swedish pine forests. Sure to be a unique experience in the Nordic light.

The ski race, which has been around since 1922, had over 58,000 participants in 2013. Since 2009, Vasaloppet also organizes Sweden’s largest mountain bike race which uses the same trail. Vasaloppet has created world-class events for almost an entire century. With UltraVasan, the aim now is to create the largest ultra-trail race in Scandinavia and the organization will do everything to give each runner a unique experience out in the trail.

– The Vasaloppet ski race is known worldwide and this year’s bike race attracted over 15 000 cyclists from 24 nations. Now we will focus on running and my belief is that our experience with organizing sports events combined with our unique nature can attract a large international audience including the growing category of ultra-running. I am convinced that our runners will have an unforgettable experience, says Anders Selling, CEO of Vasaloppet.

Throughout the development process of this new Vasaloppet-event, the organization has been in close cooperation with one of the best Ultra Trail-runners in the world, Jonas Buud.

Buud, born and raised in the colors of the local sport club IFK Mora (one of the owners of Vasaloppet), is the winner of the legendary Swiss Alpine Marathon seven times in a row (2007-2013) and also the second place runner (2012) in the most prestigious ultra-trail race in world, the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Buud is also the Swedish record holder in the 100 K with a time of 6:28:59. Today he will try to beat his second place from last year in UTMB 2013.

– Since almost a year ago I have been a part of the process together with Vasaloppet to create the ultimate ultra-trail race where all participants will have an extraordinary running experience. Several times during my international races, I have dreamed about giving my competitors the unique experience to run this legendary 90 K that millions of skiers have done since 1922 and now this dream will become a reality. We are also trying to attract several international top performers in both the men’s and women’s class of the 90K race and it will be something special for me after all these years to be a part of this event and cross the finish line in my hometown Mora, says Jonas Buud.

In the UltraVasan, you can choose between two trail courses. Just like the traditional Vasaloppet, the 90 km race starts in Sälen and finishes in Mora. The shorter race is 45 kilometers long and starts in Oxberg with the same finish as the 90K run. Both races will offer separate classes for men and women as well as a wide selection of running experience, everything from narrow technical trails to faster, more open paths.

The capacity for the UltraVasan 90K is 750 competitors. In UltraVasan 45K there will be no limitation on registry. August 23, 2014 the start gun will sound for the first edition of both races. Registration opens at 09.00 CET, 22nd September at vasaloppet.se. More information about the entry procedure can be found at ultra.vasaloppet.se/en/
Facts about Vasaloppet

Year 1521 Gustav Vasa is on the run from the Danish king. He halts in Sälen and returns to Mora to lead the rebellion against the occupying power. Gustav Vasa later on Becomes King of Sweden and more than 400 years later, the first skiers follow the same route celebrating his memory. Today, Vasaloppet is the biggest, oldest and longest ski race in the world. Now, after 89 years and more than one million skiers, the time has come for a real challenge for runners around the world. The classic 90K trail runs through Swedish pine forests, up mountains, down into the valleys and across mires. Who will be the first ultra-runner to meet the sunrise on the journey to the finish line in Mora?