Anders Aukland, Team Ragde Charge, is saying goodbye to Birkebeinerrennet and his long-distance skiing journey. The 50-year-old Pro Tour athlete is finishing his professional career this season.
Anders Aukland has four Birkebeinerrennet wins (2006, 2010, 2012, and 2013) and, in many ways, helped define the development of long-distance skiing and, thus, Birkebeinerrennet.
“I have a lot of memories from Birken. It is an important ski race and a tough one, so it has been incredibly fun to win here a few times,” says the 50-year-old to Langrenn.com after finishing in what he said is his last Birkebeinerrennet at the elite level.
Aukland’s result for yesterday’s race was 38th position, just over ten behind the winner and teammate Andreas Nygaard.
Also Read: Solid Wins for Andreas Nygaard and Astrid Øyre Slind At Birkebeinerrennet
What will you miss?
“I will miss being in good shape, but I miss that already. I was in better shape ten years ago.”
The man who has been an advocate for long-distance skiing and who, together with his brother Jørgen Aukland, was one of the great pioneers in long-distance skiing, has now raced his last Birkebeinerrennet at the elite level.
Was it sad to race Birkebeinerrennet for the last time in the elite class?
“No. Not at all. It was just fun: fun for me and fun for Birken.”
What did you think as you skied over the mountain for the last time in the elite class yesterday?
“I didn’t really overthink. I was just trying to hang on. I have been in better shape than I am now. Birken is a tough race, but it turned out very well,” says Aukland, and continues:
“It is always hard over the mountains, but it was a nice race and great conditions,” says the veteran. It was hard on the first hill, and then it got better and better.”
Are you going to race Birken next year?
“Next year, I’ll probably wax the skis. I hope to help the guys on the team.”
Speaking of Team Ragde Charge: What do you think about your Pro Team taking both victory and second place in the men’s Birkebeinerrennet?
“Andreas (Nygaard) and Johan (Hoel) have been in good shape for a long time, and it was incredibly fun that they managed to take a double win yesterday.”
Anders Aukland, however, keeps the door open for a comeback:
“I will probably come back,” concludes Anders Aukland.
Next up is Reistadløpet on April 1 and Summit 2 Senja on April 2. The events mark the 13th and 14th Ski Classics stages and the final weekend of Ski Classics Season XIV.
The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries.
Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)
- Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
- Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
- Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km
- Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
- Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 32km
- Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 48km
- Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
- Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
- Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
- Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 12km
- Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
- Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
- Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
- Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km
More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.
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Photo: Vanzetta/NordicFocus
