(edit title) Pippa faster than the king A great race Options

[Garry Jones]

I have lived in Mora since emigrating from London 24 years ago. Once a year this town is invaded by thousands of skiers taking part in one of the Vasalopp races. All in all from Friday 24th to the classical "first Sunday in March" 63 000 skiers were signed up to do one of the events. At about £100 the entrance fee provides a good financial ground for the many local sports clubs that provide the marshalls, stewards and other workers.

Pippa Middleton did it this year and got a lot of exposure. As "pippa" means "having sex" in local slang it was pretty funny to see "Pppa faster than the King", referring to the fact that when the Swedish King did the race in 1977 he did it in a slower time than "our" Pippa.

Looking around today I see most people in the UK have seen the picture of Pippa being kissed on the finish line. However it would seem nobody really understands who kissed her or why. He was chosen to be the "kransmas" for this year, a relatively new post that can only be held once. There has been a "kranskulla" (traditionally a local virgin but always a single girl) since the first Vasalopp back in 22. Their job is to hang the garland around the neck of the winner and plant a kiss on the check. The kranskulla (garland dalagirl) deals with the men and the kransmas (garland dalaboy) with the ladies. They are also around throughout the day to deal with other selected participants, Pippa for instance, and the person who comes last.

I have seen this kiss on various sites described totally wrongly.

[skogsbo]

a very good effort by her and her brother, both must have been in the front half of the masses. I suspect a bit of natural ability or secret training, or both. Especially good when you don't live surrounded by snow for 4 months of the year. Either way both should go for the full classic now.

[JulieLou40]

I don't understand why this woman is being treated like a celebrity, OR why she should get so many column inches. She is not a member of the royal family, or anyone of note. It's a ridiculous state of affairs when someone whose family member is married to a member of the royal family, gets famous.

Have we got nothing better to do??

[skogsbo]

She has celebrity status for outclassing the bride at the royal wedding, nothing else. But at least she is using this connection to raise money for charity, how many thousands of pounds did you raise at the weekend when you skied at Vasaloppet???

EDIT - It's also great indirect PR for Sweden.

[BritVik]

I don't understand why this woman is being treated like a celebrity, OR why she should get so many column inches. She is not a member of the royal family, or anyone of not ... (show full quote)

I don't understand why this woman is being treated like a celebrity, OR why she should get so many column inches. She is not a member of the royal family, or anyone of note. It's a ridiculous state of affairs when someone whose family member is married to a member of the royal family, gets famous.

Have we got nothing better to do?? ... (hide full quote)

Don't be so catty. There are enough of that sort in the UK -and on this forum.
Anyway, if you could do better . . say the Eurovision thingy, where 'stars' appear out of nowhere, and fade just as quickly. They get plenty of that sort of attention from the media.
I don't know where she came in the race, but in my opinion anyone completing the course gets my admiration, especially from the UK. It isn't exactly a smooth ride on two planks of wood.

[skogsbo]

I don't know where she came in the race, but in my opinion anyone completing the course gets my admiration, especially from the UK. It isn't exactly a smooth ride on two planks of wood.

412th out of about 1500 women, 7hrs 13mins... about half way up the field overall. Her brother was a little quicker. I would suggest it's quite a respectable time, not one that a celebrity would porduce just because they wanted some free press coverage, the novelty would soon wear off after the first long hill climb.
Garry the OP will probably have more detail on times and placings.

[Garry Jones]

She came 402nd in the ladies race. Its a very good time for someone who has hardly done cross-country skiing. She would, more than likely, have spent winter vacations at the top resorts so although a different type of skiing she would have been used to ski-balance and ski-braking. When Kerrin Petty set the record time in 1998 she was at the first feed station in 1.07, Pippa clocked 1.05, but this was a very fast course and Petty's finish record was whiped by 10 minutes.

Yes great PR for Sweden and for Mora. I inaugerated one of Swedens most popular cycling events in 1995, I still run the event today and it is one of the top ten in Sweden, so will be inviting the Middletons back to the "Vasatrampet" later this year. What this space - www.vasatrampet.se

[skogsbo]

I still run the event today and it is one of the top ten in Sweden, so will be inviting the Middletons back to the "Vasatrampet" later this year. What this space - www.vasatrampet.se

you need to sell the idea of completing the classics to them, they could always ask their sponsors to double the donation if they complete the next 3 events. Plenty of mileage in it for magazine articles etc. for her too and all for a good cause.

[BritVik]

As Skogsbo has, this is good PR for both Sweden and Pippa's charities. In her position - whatever that can be considered - she is not doing it for personal gain, therefore getting good publicity pays - for absolutely all concerned.

I've put your URL in my list, to come back to as the time for the event approaches.

Nice to know you Garry. Keep up the good work. You are showing 'both flags'.

[JulieLou40]

She has celebrity status for outclassing the bride at the royal wedding, nothing else. But at least she is using this connection to raise money for charity, how many thousands ... (show full quote)

She has celebrity status for outclassing the bride at the royal wedding, nothing else. But at least she is using this connection to raise money for charity, how many thousands of pounds did you raise at the weekend when you skied at Vasaloppet??? ... (hide full quote)

Ha ha, true

[byke]

I agree, she is famous through association ... And while sad, is still fairly common in these modern times. However what is sadder is how stories like this are used to show foreign fame association to Sweden.

So just to reiterate, you have Pippa who is associated to Kate and the Swedish press attempting to associate pippa to Sweden. "because we are worth it" lol

[skogsbo]

So just to reiterate, you have Pippa who is associated to Kate and the Swedish press attempting to associate pippa to Sweden. "because we are worth it" lol

but, she didn't have to come here. She could have chosen run the Sables Marathon or an Ironman Triathlon somewhere nice and warm... but she chose sking and Sweden. She could have gone for the Birkebeiner in Norway (good route by the way), so why can't the event and Sweden make the most of it. If a 100 Brits travel over to Sweden to race next year, that's money into Sweden, bonus.

I completely fail to see why some people are negative, when it's all positive.

[Streja]

Swedes are always happy when someone half important visits our unknown country. We're that naive.

[byke]

but, she didn't have to come here. She could have chosen run the Sables Marathon or an Ironman Triathlon somewhere nice and warm... but she chose sking and Sweden. She cou ... (show full quote)

but, she didn't have to come here. She could have chosen run the Sables Marathon or an Ironman Triathlon somewhere nice and warm... but she chose sking and Sweden. She could have gone for the Birkebeiner in Norway (good route by the way), so why can't the event and Sweden make the most of it. If a 100 Brits travel over to Sweden to race next year, that's money into Sweden, bonus.

I completely fail to see why some people are negative, when it's all positive. ... (hide full quote)

All props to Pippa, since she was the one who took part. (no question on that)
And even greater props to the fact she did it for charity.

But the way its being reported and these references to choosing Sweden, makes it sound almost like a state visit to recognize Sweden. When the fact is, she is simply a lady who shares a brother in law who has a royal status to which she wanted to take part in a sporting event.

I dont think the majority of everyday people who are into a certain sport, ever question which country they should go to in reference to sporting events. Other than costs, and safety. And I dont think her "fame" through association is great enough to dictate which countries she will acknowledge through visiting them on her leisure time.

But this use of foreign "celebs" in a way to prop up or justify a nations worth through association it where I think it steps over the line. And shows almost desperation of the news industry which in turn doesn't evoke thoughts of unbiased reporting. Makes it sound like all the papers work for a past kingdom, rather than a democracy.

[Streja]

? You read all that from...well...that?