Worldloppet history

July 9, 2008

We are sure that you bought the book 30 years of skiing around the world,  issued last year at the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the foundation of Worldloppet. Probably you found that it was captivating reading.

The editors Epp Paal and Angelo Corradini made a remarkable job by preparing the book within a tight time schedule. Epp collected the contributions from several competent authors involved in Worldloppet at various stages. Since many skiers are interested in historic aspects, we will point out here to two facts. The first is a mistake and the second a complementary piece of information.

1. Worldloppet  Master No. 0.

The book states on page 22 that Carol Duffy (USA) was the first registered WL Master. This is correct. But then it explains that it came out that Heinrich Popp (GER) had finished the first Master before her and WL attributed Master No. 0 to him. This is not true, as you can see from the list of WL Masters on www.worldloppet.com/masters.php?tyyp=numbers. Master No. 0 is Gunnar Sarring (SWE), Master No. 1 Carol Duffy and No. 2 Heinrich Popp.

Gunnar is also Master No. 1000 and 2000. He was born in 1941 in Stockholm and lives in Rättvik, not far from Mora. His job was in the environment/healthcare area until his retirement in 1998. Gunnar made his first Vasaloppet in 1964; at that time the minimum age was 23. His best result in Vasaloppet was 120, in 1967. Gunnar has been a Vasaloppet Veteran for many years; until now he has skied 38 Vasaloppets or Öppet Spårs. Worldloppet constituted for Gunnar a second ski career; his Master No. 0 was achieved in 1980. Gunnar is still a very active WL skier and has several new Masters in preparation. It seems that with the actual high rate of Master titles, No. 3000 will be reached in 2010. In view of that, Gunnar has decided to keep one completed WL passport in reserve, waiting for the attribution of a Master number. We all hope that he will get the No. 3000, 30 years after his Master No. 0.

2. Steve Fossett

Page 22 mentions that one of the most interesting Worldloppet Masters in year 1 was Steve Fossett, a rich American adventurer who established an impressive set of world records in flying, ballooning and sailing. Our readers will remember that he almost lost his life in crashes of balloons in his attempts to fly around the world non-stop. On September 3, 2007, just at the time when the Jubilee book went in press, Fossett disappeared when flying over the desert of Nevada. In spite of intensive research he was not found and was declared dead on February 15, 2008.

This page was last revised on October 14, 2008