Michigan’s own Vasa

Yesterday we wrote about the Vasaloppet in Sweden, the grand daddy of all cross country skiing events held since 1922 to commemorate the Swedish rebellion, led by Gustav Eriksson Vasa, against the Danes, which now attracts, over the course of a week and in many different events,in excess of 140,000 participants.

Well today it is the turn of ‘The Great Lakes State’ – Michigan, where in the Pere Marquette State Forest , near Traverse City in the north western part of the lower peninsula lies the premier cross country trail known as the Vasa Pathway. This year their ‘Vasa’ event which will be held on February 13th to 15th and is already attracting many entries.

Events include a 27 km and 50 km classic, a 27 km and 50 km freestyle, timed classes and a junior Vasa. Registration for the event will cost in the region of $50 to $60 but for further information on the trail, registration and the event, which will prove to be a great day out we suggest you visit the official website by clicking on this link  http://www.vasa.org/index.php

Below is a video from JeffOYB which may not from his opening remark be the best advertisement for cross country skiing in Michigan or the Vasa but when you watch the video you will see what fun this sport can be.

Europe’s greatest ski fest – the Vasaloppet

It all began nearly 500 years ago, the year 1520 to be precise, when a Swedish nobleman, Gustav Eriksson Vasa, fled the blood letting troops of King Christian II of Denmark, who only weeks before had executed Vasa’s father and brother with 80 other Swedes, in what became known as Stockholm’s bloodbath. Vasa fled to Mora where he attempted to persuade the people to rise in revolt against the Danes but before they gave him an answer the impending arrival of Danish troops was announed and Vasa fled.

Within days news of the Stockholm bloodbath had arrived in Mora and the people wished Vasa was still with them to lead the rebellion. They sent their two fastest skiers after him and they caught up with him at Salen and persuaded him to turn back. That was Sweden’s first Vasalopp. The rest is history as they say – 3 years later Gustav Eriksson Vasa was elected king of a free Sweden.

It was not until 1922 that the people of Mora voted to hold a race between Salen and Mora, a distance of 90 kms (56 miles) and on March 19th 1922 the Vasaloppet, as it became known, was again raced with 119 starters with the winner, Ernst Alm, coming home in 7 hours 32 minutes 49 seconds.

Today there is a whole week of fun, sking, music and festivities. The skiing now includes non competitive events, 30 kms races, races for girls only and for all ages – as many as 140,000 people have participated in one year alone! This is Europe’s greatest ski fest and the big race itself, which is now completed in as little as 3 hours 40 minutes has been won, other than by Swedes, by individuals from Norway, Finland, Germany, Russia and France. There have been many unique and sporting occurences in the 86 years of the race. Below you will see the profile of the 90 km course from Salen to Mora.

Entries for the 2009 event – which starts on February 20th and finishes with the Vasaloppet itself on March 1st have already reached over 30,000 and can be found on the official website – jusy click on the following link http://www.vasaloppet.se/wps/VasaCMS/generated/resources.Loppbasinfo/anmalan/enanmalan.html  and choose which event is for you.

 Finally you can see some of the fun in the video below from magnuslindgren – this sport is very tough and very extreme.