This article is republished from folkbladet.se
Vasaloppet is not a big enough challenge for Sara Mang from Kimstad GoIF. During April, she will participate in the world’s longest ski race, up in northern Sweden.
The former sprinter from Tjalve will participate in Nordenskiöldsloppet, a race that measures, read and gasp, as much as 220 kilometers!
– It doesn’t discourage me, says Sara, who will probably be the only contestant from our area.
Sara is used to test of strengths, even if Nordenskiöldsloppet, of course, is something extraordinary. We’re talking about a distance of two and a half times as long as Vasaloppet.
– I’m an inspirational person. The goal is to finish around 15-18 hours, but you never know what’s going to happen or what kind of snow surface it will be.
Approximately 350 tough athletes (of which only a fraction are women) have registered for the race up in the north.
– My father comes from Gällivare so I know the area. We start in Jokkmokk and go to Kvikkjokk where we turn and go back. Then the finish line will be in Jokkmokk, says Sara Mang, 40 years old.
Club-mate Roger Strömqvist is also registered, but are hesitant to run due to too many injuries during his training period.
– But he might accompany and support me, says Sara.
Sara has as many as six previous Vasalopp on her track record. And a number of ultra races, but in running shoes. She has also participated in Ironman and Vätternrundan.
– I got hurt in the knees because of running, so I started to roller ski, which is gentler. I like to learn new things, not just the practicing part, but also the technical part.
During the winter, Sara has participated in Svenska långcupen, where one usually race for 40-45 kilometers. Nordenskiöldsloppet is, of course, another story.
– The tactic is to start extremely slow. Sure, it can be lonely at the track but I’m prepared.
The extreme distance race has not been arranged since 1884, when the polar explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld organized the contest, only to prove their expedition members’ ability to cover long distances in a short time.
Threefold Vasaloppet winner Daniel Tynell is the sporting director with responsibility for ensuring the competition’s quality and implementation from a participant perspective.
– This is so powerful! This is something beyond a long distance race – it is an ultra race. Today, we know which athletes that are good at racing fifty, seventy and ninety kilometers. But who is good at 220 kilometers? This is something completely different, says Daniel Tynell in a press release.
Sara has taken the help of Daniel Thynells brother, Richard, who has been giving good advice prior this test of strength. The competition is open to both the elite and enthusiasts. The course is the same as when the race went down in 1884, from Purkijaur just outside Jokkmokk Kvikkjokk and back again.
– I have skied all my life and this will be so awesome, ends Sara Mang.
Written by Pär Andersson, Folkbladet
