Vasaloppet!
The Worlds oldest and largest ski race. Not to mention longest!
Been going since 1922, and is based on an historical ski journey from 1500's.
March 4, 2018 is the race.
The starting line in Salen.
This image I got from Vasaloppets official site. (vasaloppet.se)
Imagine 16 000 people on skis traveling 90 km through the forests, over frozen lakes, past small villages before arriving in the town of Mora.
In Mora they will glide over the finishing line. It is a beautiful, permanent finish line structure. During summers, there will be a set of skis available to hold for a photo opportunity. Every time I am home visiting I walk under this goal. Brings back many memories from growing up and running around in this area. It looked a little different back then, but the goal is in the same place.
image by aronanderson.se
The first ones across the finish line will be there within 3 hours of the start. It goes fast! Skiers will arrive all day long until close to 10 pm at night. The cut off time is depending on how fast it took the first one to finish.
The last, or later arrivals, have the cute nickname 'blueberries'.
This comes from the blueberry soup that is being served along the way as an energy drink. They are stained with it :).
I am adding the history link as well from the official vasaloppets website.
http://www.vasaloppet.se/en/about-us/history/
Since I am not back home for this event, I am very glad for internet. I will watch from here, in the tropics.
My father did this race, several times, back in the 80's, he had quite a good time too.
As an artist, it's also very interesting to me that the museum of Anders Zorn is there - actually very close to that goal line.
http://www.zorn.se/en/