FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vasaloppet moves to Saturday, Feb 7 in 2015

After 42 years, Vasaloppet USA is moving the race from Sunday to Saturday, beginning with the 2015 race. The date of the first Saturday race is February 7, 2015.

Last Sunday when the announcement first was released, the publicized date was February 14, which was the second Saturday in February. That date continued the tradition of the Vasaloppet being the second Sunday in February.

But in 2015 and (and it will happen again 11 years from now in 2026), the second Saturday in February collides with the Finlandia and the Book Across the Bay races. It also creates a two-week gap between the Vasaloppet USA and the City of Lakes Loppet, which are now one week apart.

“Once this problem was brought to our attention, the Vasaloppet Board decided we had to move the 2015 date to Saturday, Feb. 7,” Vasaloppet president, Mike Brown, said.

The Vasaloppet Board of Directors at its annual meeting last May approved the date change, but the announcement was delayed to after the start of the 2014 race to avoid any confusion on the day of this year’s race.

Race officials spent considerable time following the 2013 race survey skiers, community volunteers and local businesses on whether such a change would be a positive change for the race. The response was overwhelmingly in support of a Saturday race.

A Saturday race provides a number of benefits to skiers and volunteers alike. The biggest advantage is that it allows skiers and volunteers to have Sunday to rest up before returning to work or school on Monday. It also provides skiers the opportunity to spend more time socializing at the Vasaloppet Celebration tent and enjoy other activities on Sunday around Mora.

The move to Saturday will mean the Miniloppet children’s race will be moved to Sunday and a 12:30 pm start. Following the Miniloppet there will also be a Skijoring race.

Vasaloppet USA established in 1973 is an International cross-country ski race located in Mora Minnesota. It is one of four Vasaloppet races in the world including: Sweden, United States, Japan, and China.