to travel north to find men who would support his revolt. Shortly thereafter, a couple of refugees arrived in Mora, where they told the peasantry about the brutality of Christian II and his men. The people of Mora then decided to find Gustav Vasa and join his revolt. They sent two skilled skiers to find him. In Sälen, they finally caught up with him. The Vasaloppet is a huge long distance 90 km (56 mi) ski-race is inspired by this notable journey fleeing from Christian II's soldiers during the winter of 1520–1521, but performed reverse from Sälen back to Mora. According to legend, he fled on skis. The modern competition started in 1922 and it has been a part of the Worldloppet events since 1979. Vasaloppet is the ski-race of the year in Sweden and seen by many Swedes (TV-viewers) as bigger than the World ski Championships (that some years are performed the same day independently of each other), about 15,000 are the maximum attendance limit and is sold out in hours, a few hundred international elite contenders. Total attendance for the entire Vasalopp-week races 70,200 (2015). It is the oldest cross-country ski race in the world, as well as the one with the highest number of participants. Back in Mora, on New Year's Eve, 1521, Gustav Vasa was appointed to "hövitsman" by envoys from all the parishes of North Dalarna. In March, Gustav Vasa marched out from Mora with about 100 men and sacked Kopparberg. Shortly thereafter, the peasantry of Bergslagen joined the revolt. Gustav Vasa's army had now grown to over 1,000 men. Battle of Brunnbäck Ferry When news of the Swedish revolt reached Christian II, he sent a force of Landknechten to crush the rebellion. In April 1521, the union forces confronted Gustav Vasa's men at Brunnbäck Ferry, and the King's army was crushed. This victory greatly improved the Swedish rebels' morale. In Dalarna, an emergency mint was established in order to produce the copper coins necessary to finance the war. Västerås - the turning point The rebel army continued south to Västerås, which they conquered and sacked in the Battle of Västerås 29 April 1521. When words of Gustav Vasa's success spread across Sweden, the supporters of the Sture family decided to join the revolt. Västerås became a turning point in the faith of Gustav Vasa's abilities, the rebels got the control over shipping from Bergslagen