By Johan Trygg
Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Koteng, started season X with four podium places, including victories in La Venosta and La Diagonela.
The rest of the season was ruined due to gluten intolerance. Astrid is now hungry for revenge in season XI.
“I want to have an even shape throughout the whole season but I also have the desire to win the big races like Marcialonga, Jizerska, Vasaloppet and Birken”, says Astrid.
At the beginning of season X it looked like Astrid Øyre Slind would really challenge Britta Johansson Norgren, Lager 157 Ski Team, in the Champion competition. Astrid was 4th in the Livigno Prologue and then had four podium places in a row: La Venosta 1st, Kaiser Maximilian Lauf 3rd, La Diagonela 1st and Marcialonga 2nd.
In February, when Toblach-Cortina was around the corner, the situation had deteriorated; however, the situation was not good for Astrid.
“I did not feel well when I stood on the start line. I had been on the toilet all night and had no nutrition left in my body,” says Astrid, who finished 18th place and saw the yellow Champion bib fly away.
Astrid, later on, discovered that she has celiac disease. Celiac disease is an immune disease in which people cannot eat gluten because it will damage their small intestine. If you have celiac disease and eat foods with gluten, your immune system responds by damaging the small intestine.
Weeks in Italy with lots of pizza and bread was, of course, not an ideal diet for her. Now Astrid has control over what she eats and has adjusted to her new diet. The training has also gone well during the summer.
“I have stayed healthy and injury free and been able to do the job that is required. Though, I feel sad that there has not been that many roller ski races, as usual, this summer,” says Astrid.
However, she was able to participate in a competition recently. Together with her teammates Stian Hoelgaard and Torleif Syrstad she won the 12-hour relay, Blink Team Classic.
“Yes, that was fun. We took the victory thanks to Stian and Torleif but we had a good tactic as well”, says Astrid.
32 year old Astrid is a Ski Classics Legend with her five events wins: Ylläs-Levi in season VIII, Reistadløpet and Ylläs-Levi in season IX, and La Venosta and La Diagonela in season X.
Astrid on her way to victory in La Venosta in December 2019. Photo: Visma Ski Classics/Magnus Östh.
Now she is aiming for victories in the more prestigious events.
“I want to have an even shape throughout the whole season but I also have the desire to win the big races like Marcialonga, Jizerska, Vasaloppet and Birken.”
Maybe you should win all four this winter and be the first to do a Grand Classics Grand Slam?
“That would be something! That’s a real challenge,” Astrid says with a smile.
The training before season XI looks a lot like previous years with some adjustments.
“Of course, I want to get better at my weaknesses. I want to be faster in easy terrain; I want to be stronger and be able to win a race in a sprint finish.”
Since her teammate from Season X, Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes decided to retire, she has a new teammate in former Team Ragde Eiendom’s, Emelie Fleten.
“Emelie and I live 200 meters apart, so we train together almost every day. I think it’s good for both of us that we can encourage each other.”
The summer has not been all about training for Astrid. A couple of weeks ago, she went to Lofoten in the north of Norway and climbed Svolværgeita. It is a 150 meter tall pinnacle at the southwest face of the mountain Fløyfjellet on the island of Austvågøya in the Lofoten archipelago.
The mountain has two horns, which are called Storhorn and Lillehorn. By descending from Storhorn, it is common to jump over a 1.5 meters wide gap and land on Lillehorn, while viewing the town cemetery 300 meters below.
Astrid climbed to the top and she did “the jump” from Storhorn to Lillehorn as you can see at the top picture.
“It was an awesome experience - a memory for life. The climb up is not that difficult but the jump itself was cool to do,” Astrid says.
Here is the mountain Svolværgeita located.
Top picture. Photo: Geir Rune Holm.
