Ski Classics Season XIV will be one of the most international seasons, with Pro Tour athletes coming from all over the world. Margeaux Thompson will be one of those internationals, coming from Australia to represent Danish Skimarathon Team. Read our interview to know more about this Aussie skier.
After the end of last season, we got the news that a group of Danish skiers wanted to become the first Pro Team from Denmark to compete at Ski Classics. Therefore, they needed to recruit female athletes to get the Pro Team license.
Therefore, Danish Ski Marathon Team published an article inviting female skiers to join its team. And this is how Margeaux Thompson and Ella Jackson, two Australian skiers, became part of the first Danish Pro Team.
ProXCskiing wanted to know more about these girls. In this interview, we will present Margeaux Thompson and talk about her background, how she became a cross-country skier, and her goals for the future.
How did you become a team member of the Danish Ski Marathon Team?
“I have always been interested in the long-distance skiing races, and a friend of mine reached out and mentioned the Danish Ski Marathon Team was hoping to get a Pro Team license. They were looking to form a women’s team as part of that. So, I had a look through the schedule and had a chat with Björn, and I was interested right away!”
What are your expectations for the first season for you and your team?
“The Ski Classics races have a high level of competition, and I was a late starter to cross-country skiing. However, I have a reasonable sporting background in endurance sports. I have done cycling and rowing, and I will give it my best shot. We have the aim as a team to beat a Norwegian or Swedish skier this season, and I believe it is an achievable goal!”
“Regarding team support, having like-minded individuals is important. We all come from a working background, so having some support from people who understand the demands of being a working athlete will be beneficial. Ella Jackson, who is on the team and is also an Aussie, will be traveling with me to some of the races, and having the guidance of the guys who have been around these bigger races before will be very helpful.”
Please tell us a bit about your background and experience in cross-country skiing.
“I came to cross-country skiing a few years ago while taking a few weeks off the bike with some hip pain due to cycling. I had a rough time with crashes while cycling and tried skiing one weekend for fun. I was instantly hooked, and then just by luck, I got involved with some of Australia’s stronger skiers, who provided some guidance and pathways to consider into the sport.”
“It’s never easy as an Aussie as we are so far away, but we have areas where we have good connections and have support for a season abroad. I skied for a season in Bozeman, Montana. It was a great experience and improved my skiing, but gosh, it was cold. Then I went to Austria the next year with a group from Australia, and that was great too! The next two years, we had the Covid-19 situation, but I moved over to Austria during the pandemic to be with my partner who is Austrian, and now I am mostly based in Tirol.”
Double-poling is the main technique used in Ski Classics. How is your upper body strength?
“I love double poling! It’s always been one of my stronger points as I am quite tall. I did a bit of classic distance racing in that first year in Austria, and I was hooked after that. I feel like you get in a good rhythm and focus on maintaining that. It’s a bit like rowing.”
How has summer training been for you? Or should we say winter season in Australia?
“I was based in Europe for the summer. I just got back from three weeks in Australia, but I didn’t do any cross-country skiing while I was at home, as it was my final break before the season. I did a lot of mountain running and some running races through this period. I mixed it up with some road cycling as well.”
“What I’ve learned over the years is balance is important, and what I love about skiing is everything you can do is beneficial. Even if it’s not specifically skiing. I’ve always found I benefit from short breaks, and a quick refresh can help prevent overtraining.”
Finally, who are your heroes in long-distance skiing, and which races are you looking forward to the most?
“I am looking forward to Marcialonga! I have heard amazing stories from people I know who have participated in it.”
“My heroes in distance skiing are probably Britta Johansson Norgren and Emilie Fleten. They are so strong, and I’m really excited to be lining up alongside Fleten soon!”
