After six weeks on the road with a second-place and three victories, Lina Korsgren, Team Ramudden, is now at home in Åre, Sweden, preparing for Vasaloppet.
Together with her teammates Ida Dahl and Jenny Larsson, she has dominated the start of season XI.
“No one has been able to beat us so far this winter. It actually feels a bit unreal,” says Korsgren.
After being away from home for six weeks, Lina is now happy to be at home for a while.
“The body feels good, but you get a little mentally tired from traveling. When you have been away for so long, there are some things to grab when you get home as well. It’s nice to be at home and start building up for Vasaloppet,” says Korsgren.
Regarding preparation for Vasaloppet, Lina does as usual. First training at home, then down to Mora and Tjejvasan February 27th, back a few days to Åre before she travels down to the Vasaloppet start in Sälen.
“I have the same routine every year. It feels good and safe.”
Lina can look back on a fantastic suite in the Pro tour. Since the victory at Vasaloppet last year, which then ended season X, she was second at the Season XI start in Engadin La Diagonela behind her teammate Jenny Larsson. Then she won the three last races: Toblach-Cortina, Marcialonga, and Jizerská 50.
In the Champion competition, Lina is in the lead, followed by her teammate Ida Dahl in second place and with Jenny Larsson as fourth.
“No one has been able to beat us so far this winter. It’s an unusual situation, and it actually feels a bit unreal,” says Korsgren.
Ida Dahl seriously challenged you at Jizerská 50!
“Yes indeed. I think Ida did one of the best races of her life then. She has shown before how good she is uphill, but now she was also very strong on the fast parts of the course in a way I haven’t seen before.”
It appears that you have excellent skis in every race?
“Yes, it’s a safety. I never have to think about the skis. I know I get competitive skis, and sometimes they are exceptional.”
Lina’s husband Gustaf, Team Ramudden Pro Team Director, is the man behind the skis’ preparation.
“Gustafs and the others work with a clear structure and do the job required in front of every race. They kind of reset before each race and don’t go on old ideas about which skis or which wax went well on previous races,” says Lina and continues;
“It’s also important that we have such good basic material when we all three girls use Salomon skis. Together we have a large and great ski park.”
Then we have this with the Grand Slam. Visma Ski Classics launched Grand Classics ahead of season XI, including the four major classic races Marcialonga, Jizerská 50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet. The prize money to win all four races and take a Grand Slam is 100,000 euros.
After Marcialonga and Jizerká 50, Lina Korsgren and Lager 157 Ski Teams Emil Persson keep the possibility of the Grand Slam alive after their victories in both races.
“It’s fun that we can keep up the interest because it was something developed to increase the attention and excitement during the season. Emil has been so powerful. I watched the men’s race afterward, and his finish at Jizerska 50 was world-class,” says Korsgren.
