Västgötaloppet Winter Weekend, part of the Ski Classics Challengers circuit with two events – 42km Skate and 42km Classic – has officially opened registrations for its 2026 edition. The long-distance skiing events will take place on Saturday, January 31, and Sunday, February 1, 2026, in Ulricehamn, Sweden.
A true Swedish classic, Västgötaloppet was first held in 1929 between Ulricehamn and Borås and is one of Sweden’s oldest and most popular long-distance ski races. Today, the event takes place at the modern Lassalyckan Vasaloppet Center in Ulricehamn, featuring excellent facilities, long artificial snow tracks, and a festive atmosphere.
Each winter, the Västgötaloppet Classic attracts around 1,000 participants and serves as one of Sweden’s largest seeding races for both Vasaloppet and Tjejvasan. With its scenic and spectator-friendly course, excellent service, and welcoming environment, the event offers the perfect mix of competition and community for elite and recreational skiers alike.
The Västgötaloppet Skate, introduced in 2025, quickly became a success. It stands out as one of the few pure long-distance races in the world using freestyle technique. Both the Classic and Skate races share the same 42km course at Lassalyckan, allowing participants to choose their preferred style while enjoying the same exciting atmosphere and high-quality organization.
Over the years, Västgötaloppet has established itself not only as a race but as a full winter festival — the Västgötaloppet Winter Weekend — featuring additional sprint and relay events that attract skiers, families, and companies for a memorable experience on snow.
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is pleased to join the Ski Classics Challengers circuit:
“The classic Västgötaloppet in Ulricehamn, soon celebrating its 100th anniversary, is not only one of Sweden’s oldest long-distance ski races but also one of the most appreciated. Each year, Västgötaloppet receives top ratings from participants for its professionalism and friendly atmosphere — not only for the race itself but also for everything surrounding the event, where every participant, from elite to recreational, feels valued.”
“Since 1929, Västgötaloppet has been organized under the motto ‘only the best is good enough’.” Over time, this has built a sustainable and highly regarded event, and we are now very proud to have accepted the invitation from Ski Classics Challengers to become part of the Ski Classics family.”
The LOC continues:
“Joining Ski Classics marks an important milestone for our historic race. Together with the Ski Classics organization, we now have the opportunity to take the event to the next level — developing it into an even more professional and appreciated competition for the growing number of skiers who value that “only the best is good enough.”
Also Read: Västgötaloppet joins the Ski Classics Challengers calendar with Classic and Skate events
The organizers look forward to welcoming skiers to Ulricehamn and sharing the event’s long tradition and strong community spirit.
Registrations for all the events (Competition 42, Exercise 42, Exercise 25, Exercise 18, Skate 42, Skate 25, Skate 12, and Relay) opened Friday, October 17, 2026 – Link below!
For more information about Västgötaloppet Winter Weekend 2026, visit the Västgötaloppet website.
