Mora Sports & Outdoors Tips by Stephen-KarenConn

Annual Vasaloppet Cross-Country Ski Race

This life sized statue of a cross country skiier in motion is named "Ole." It stands at the junction of Highway 23 East and Highway 65, and serves as a reminder to all of the annual Vasaloppet ski race in Mora.

In 1973, Mora, Minnesota residents who wanted to strengthen the ties between themselves and their sister city of Mora, Sweden, decided to adopt the Swedish Vasaloppet cross-country ski race, the most famous race of its kind in the world. Just like at the Swedish counterpart, the trails are puncuated with blueberry soup and drink stands. The home-stretch and finish line are set right in the center of town, just as in Sweden. It has grown to become Minnesota's largest race, with more than 2,000 skiers taking part each year. The community event is staged by more than 700 volunteers, many of them descendents of Swedish imigrants.

Many Swedes travel to Minnesota to take part in the American version of Vasaloppet. In 1987 Peter Hjelte from Mora, Sweden, won the race.

Theme: Skiing/Snowboarding

Website: http://www.nordicway.com/search/Vasa%20Loppet.htm