IVSCE has been held since 2004. The first student exchange took place in Asahikawa, Japan. In 2009 Vasaloppet in Sweden hosted the exchange. That was when Changchun, China, participated for the first time with a group of leaders and youths.

Since 2009 the student exchange has taken place every other year, during a week in the beginning of August. Up to six students aged 16–19 and two leaders from each country may participate. The organizer pays for local travel, food and accommodation from arrival to departure. The majority of participants, especially the leaders, should have some connection to the Vasaloppet organization in their country.

In 2017 Vasaloppet in Sweden arranged the tenth exchange.

History
Participants from IFK Mora and Sälens IF
The international Vasaloppet races

History

During an IVSCE conference in 2002 in Asahikawa, Japan, the three countries of Sweden, the USA and Japan decided to establish an exchange programme for students. The exchange was to take place annually, alternating between the countries, and be based on the Vasaloppet events in the three countries.

It was a group consisting of Ulf Hållmarker, chairman of Vasaloppet’s board, Ingrid Andersson, functionary representative in IFK Mora Idrottsallians, and Inger Löfgren with Monica Eriksson, Vasaloppet, that made IVSCE possible, in collaboration with IFK Mora Idrottsallians and Sälens IF.
The first exchange was held in Asahikawa, Japan, 2004. Changchun, China, participated for the first time in 2009.

  • 2017 – Mora, Sweden
    August 7–13
    Participants from Sweden: Emelie Brudin, Moa Sjösten Andersson, Alva Mjöberg, IFK Mora. , Jennie-Lee Burmansson, Lucas Söderberg, Lina Eriksson, Sälens IF.
    Leaders: Gunnel Söderberg, Maria Gustafsson, Gun-Britt Cristoferson, Ulrika Hugerth, Johan Trygg, Calle Sköld, Christina Sköld Westling, Carola Landmark Jonestål and Ingemar Simonsson.
  • 2015 – Mora, USA
    July 31–August 8
    All four international Vasaloppet regions were represented with youths as well as leaders. Participants from Sweden: Emma Frost, Ewelina Grannas and Nils Augustsson, IFK Mora. Calle Sköld, Hugo Atterlid and Ludvig Lifvendahl, Sälens IF.
    Leaders: Olle Andersson, Gun-Britt Cristoferson and Ingemar Simonsson.
  • 2013 – Ashaikawa, Japan
    July 29–August 5
    Participants from Sweden: Olle Zander, Elin Beronius and Frida Ljunggren, IFK Mora. Greta Nilsson, Hanna Persson and Elias Eriksson.
    Leaders: Karl-Erik Palm and Ingemar Simonsson.
    Youths and leaders participated from Sweden, China and Japan. USA could not participate.
  • 2011 – Changchun, China
    July 30–August 7
    Participants from Sweden: Isabel Jansson, Felicia Ahlbin and Tim Shorter, Sälens IF. Viktoria Stärner, Matilda Melin and Johan Gunnars, IFK Mora.
    Leader: Ingrid Andersson, Olle Andersson and Ingemar Simonsson.
    Carried out by IFK Mora Idrottsallians and Sälens IF for the first time since the Vasaloppet municipalities discontinued their financial contributions and Vasaloppet discontinued administrative support. Ingrid Andersson was an important voluntary ”engine” driving this work. It was a very good host week with great experiences. Accommodation with families as in previous IVSCE. Participants were youths and leaders from Sweden, Japan and China. USA messaged that they could not participate.
  • 2009 – Mora, Sweden
    July 29–August 6
    Youths participated from the USA, Japan, China and Sweden. Administered by Vasaloppet in collaboration with the three Vasaloppet municipalities. Many host families in Mora were involved. Excursions within Malung-Sälen, Älvdalen and Mora.
  • 2008 – Mora, USA
    August 4–12
    Participants from Sweden: Erik Frost and Emil Pettersson, Mora. Marie Larson and Kristina Lycke, Malung-Sälen. Linn Backlund and Ida Martinsson, Älvdalen.
    Leaders: Inger Löfgren and Robin Johansson.
    Administered by Vasaloppet in collaboration with the three Vasaloppet municipalities. Part of the twin town exchange between Mora and those involved. Participants from Sweden, the USA and Japan.
  • 2007 – Ashaikawa, Japan
    July 29–August 7
    Participants from Sweden: Oscar Trygg and Hanna Hult Skogs, Mora. Maria Martinsson and Camilla Bergqvist Runesson, Älvdalen. Åsa Lif and Helene Sandbäck, Malung-Sälen.
    Leader: Inger Löfgren and Jonas Wickström.
    The plan was that Changchun, China, would host IVSCE 2007, but they had to cancel. Asahikawa, Japan, were asked to take over hosting.
    Administered by Vasaloppet in collaboration with the three Vasaloppet municipalities. Part of the twin town exchange between Mora and those involved. Participants from Sweden, the USA and Japan.
  • 2006 – Mora, Sweden
    July 29–August 6
    Youths participated from the USA, Japan and Sweden. Administered by Vasaloppet in collaboration with the three Vasaloppet municipalities. Host families in Mora. Excursions within Malung-Sälen, Älvdalen and Mora.
  • 2005 – Mora, USA
    August 7–17
    Participants from Sweden: Anna Segerström, Mora, Caroline-Westling, Malung-Sälen, Daniel Fagerlund, Malung-Sälen, Kim Svensson, Älvdalen, Johanna Lundhammar, Mora.
    Leaders: Ingrid Andersson and Inger Löfgren.
    Administered by Vasaloppet in collaboration with the three Vasaloppet municipalities. Part of the twin town exchange between Mora and those involved. Participants from Sweden, the USA and Japan.
  • 2004 – Ashaikawa, Japan
    Participants from Sweden: Erik Böhlmark, Hanna Svärd, Gustav Hall and Lina Arvidsson, Mora. Jonas Nilsson, Sälen. Jannika Persson and Carina Pettersson, Älvdalen.
    Leaders: Ingrid Andersson and Christer Winbo.
    The first exchange was held in Japan in 2004 after Mora in Minnesota, USA, cancelled due to problems with SARS. Administered by Vasaloppet in collaboration with the three Vasaloppet municipalities. Part of the twin town exchange between Mora and those involved. Participants from Sweden, USA and Japan.

Participants from IFK Mora and Sälens IF

Since 2009, IFK Mora Idrottsallians and Sälens IF arranges the whole exchange. Participants from IFK Mora Idrottsallians and Sälens IF are to be chosen through membership clubs and sections. The criteria that clubs and sections base their choice on are as follows:

  • The participant should be 16–19 years of age.
  • The participant should be a member of Sälens IF or one of IFK Mora’s six clubs.
  • The participant should be a potential future, or currently committed member within different club assignments or the Vasaloppet organization. This could mean functionary jobs, board assignments or other functions within our work.
  • The participant should be considered a good representative of Sweden, our clubs and Vasaloppet. We expect references for the nominated youths, for example teachers or other similar relationships. This is to ensure that we send good and proper representatives.
  • The participant is required to prepare and conduct a presentation with a slideshow from the trip to the owning clubs and Vasaloppet at a maximum of four occasions.

The participant is expected to present a performance during the last days of the exchange. This should be gone through before the trip.

The international Vasaloppet races

  • Vasaloppet in Mora, Sweden, founded 1922.
  • Vasaloppet in Mora, Minnesota, USA, founded 1973.
  • Vasaloppet in Asahikawa, Japan, founded 1981.
  • Vasaloppet in Changchun, China, founded 2003.

The Vasaloppet organization in Sweden was very active and involved in the founding and development of the other Vasaloppet races. A starting point and goal was to contribute to the development of cross-country skiing in general, and arrangements in these regions in particular. In connection with the events, different types of sporting, cultural and social exchange activities have taken place over the years.