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concept2.com
CONCEPT2 GOES TO
THE VASALOPPET 2010
Vasa-what?
Concept2 recently introduced the Concept2 SkiErg at
the Vasaloppet, the oldest, largest, most well-known
Nordic ski race in the world. The race is named after
16th century Swedish King Gustav Vasa who, legend
has it, skied the distance in rebellion against Christian
II of Denmark, the leader of the Kalmar Union that
controlled Sweden at the time. Combined with the
Swedish word loppet, which loosely translates to
“marathon,” you get Vasaloppet, the 90 kilometer
race route from Sälen to Mora, Sweden.
Concept2’s Josh Carlson traveled to Sweden to help
at the expo with Swedish Concept2 dealer Bo Ekros,
and also had a chance to race.
This year’s 90K race had a record number of
participants: 14,934! Over 35,000 additional skiers
participated in shorter races that took part during the
week leading up to the Vasaloppet.
Here’s an excerpt from Josh’s race report:
“By the last feed station with 9 kilometers left I had
my doubts, but the Swedish chocolate they served
and warm blueberry soup gave me a boost. Skiing into
the town of Mora with the streets lined with people
cheering was unbelievable! I put on my best show
for the last 100 meters to look fresh, but in reality,
I was beyond tired, extremely happy to be done,
and very anxious to take off my skis. I was right on
with thinking I could
finish in seven hours
and finished in a
respectable 4501st
place in 6:59:04! It
was great to meet
my target time,
thanks to workouts
back home on the
Concept2 SkiErg.”
Just a few of the nearly
15,000 skiers who raced
in the Vasaloppet!
concept2.com | 800.245.5676
INTRODUCING
INDOOR BIATHLON
Indoor rowing has been
accepted as a sport of
its own, at least among
those tens of thousands
who have participated
in one of the many
indoor rowing races held
around the world. And
indoor skiing? Well, the
first Concept2 SkiErg
Sprints was held last
November and close to
400 people participated,
so that’s a good start.
But indoor biathlon?
How does that work and
does it have a future?
For starters, we are referring to the Olympic sport
of Biathlon, which combines Nordic skiing and rifle
marksmanship. Biathletes ski as fast as they can
and then enter the shooting range to shoot at
five targets 50 meters away. It’s a unique athletic
challenge to be able to combine aerobic fitness
with the mental concentration and discipline
required to shoot straight under heart-pounding
stress. Members of the Concept2 family have
been competing in biathlon for quite a few years,
so it didn’t take long to try indoor biathlon. The
Concept2 SkiErg provides the aerobic challenge;
laser rifles are used for safe indoor shooting.
The U.S. Biathlon Association is interested in
indoor biathlon as a great way to introduce their
sport to many more people, without requiring
an outdoor range, snow, skis or the use of real
biathlon rifles. In fact, during the winter Olympics
in Vancouver, B.C., Concept2 partnered with them
to demonstrate indoor biathlon to the media.
Indoor biathlon will certainly add a new dimension
to a workout—whether with a Concept2 SkiErg
or indoor rower and a laser rifle. Alternating
cardiovascular work with shooting offers a unique
challenge. Stay tuned for future updates.
Visit concept2.com/ski for more details on the
Concept2 SkiErg.