Vasaloppet is launching a new race: Nattvasan 45

Nattvasan 90 ran for the first time in 2017. Many have described the race as a magical experience, but also as one of the toughest challenges you can face in the Vasaloppet Arena. Participants, skiing in pairs, have to face the alien experience of late night skiing as well as the compact winter darkness surrounding them in the tracks.

To make the race more accessible and to give more people the experience of skiing in moonlight and the glow of headlamps, Vasaloppet has decided to offer a new challenge as early as the Vasaloppet Winter Week 2019, for those who want to test their mettle in forefathers' tracks.

"Many have requested the option of skiing a shorter version of Nattvasan and it feels good that we can arrange a race that most people will be able to handle, and as early as this winter," says Johan Eriksson, Development Manager at Vasaloppet.

Last week Vasaloppet therefore launched Nattvasan 45, a race starting in Oxberg and running along the same course as Halvvasan but with one significant difference. This is the first time since 2012, when Skejtvasan ran for the last time, that participants have had the chance to use skate style in a shorter race, if they so wish. For this one night, Vasaloppet will prepare ski tracks for classic style as well as a surface for skating.

Both Nattvasan 90 and Nattvasan 45 will start at eight in the evening, once night has fallen and the moon and stars are the only sources of light above. With the glow of headlamps, skiers will then break the darkness and shine their way along the Vasaloppet course. Those heading out on this night are essentially on their own, cutting through the winter night down to the Vasaloppet finish line in Mora. At the Vasaloppet checkpoints in Oxberg, Hökberg and Eldris, participants can fill up on drink but all other equipment must be carried.

Getting to the finish line at the end of Vasagatan in Mora is a challenge in the day. At night it becomes an adventure. Hosting Nattvasan 90 and Nattvasan 45 is Silva, who has hosted Nattvasan from the very start.

"We are very proud to collaborate with Vasaloppet, and Nattvasan gives us a unique chance to communicate our headlamps. Nattvasan is a race that highlights togetherness, experience and adventure, words we live by. With Nattvasan 45, more cross-country skiers will get a chance to discover the fun and amazing experience of skiing in the glow of headlamps. Nattvasan gives us a chance to show that you can be active outdoors even during the darkest winter,” says Madelene Öhlin, Marketing Manager at Silva.

FACTS ABOUT NATTVASAN

Nattvasan is a couples' race where each team consists of two participants. Teams ski together for safety reasons. Team members should stay close enough together to keep an eye on each other. When finishing, the maximum time difference can be no greater than 20 seconds. Both participants must finish the race in order for the team to get a finishing time. The race is freestyle, meaning that participants can choose either classic style or skate style. The teams must finish wearing the same skis they started with. Changing skis with one another within the team is allowed. This is a leisure race where no winner is appointed.

More information on: www.vasaloppet.se