New problems for the Vasaloppet: "The rain this weekend was extreme"

The first weekend in March, the Vasa race goes off once again - despite both snowfall and mild weather, the organizer has been crowding all winter.

- Yes, we expect that. We can't handle the weather. The rain that came this weekend was extreme, but we'll fix this. However, we will not be able to bid on the beautiful winter wall that we have been able to do before, says Tommy Höglund, Vasaloppet's sports manager, to SVT Sport.

During the weekend, storms pulled in over the Dalarna with both strong winds and heavy rain. On Sunday afternoon, the organizer inspected the entire stretch.

- I would like to summarize that with the artificial snow we have on the bottom has been very good. There are some places out in the marshes where there is a lot of water and there we saw gutters to remove the water.

On Monday, the organizer will now apply both artificial snow and natural snow in the places where there is little to no snow. In addition, about 150 people have volunteered to stand and shoot.

- In some places the track is bad there, where it is very icy. But we have a week left, says Tommy Höglund.

Höglund admits that this is the most difficult winter in a long time for Vasaloppet.

- 2015 was the last year it was so problematic. But then there was a lot of snow but it was very mild instead. We have had a lack of snow on some occasions, but then it has been cold and stable. Now we have neither cold nor scream. If we are to see something positive, at least the water flows into the ground.