Team Edux held its first training camp of the summer in Vuokatti at the turn of June and July. The Pro Team now has an ambitious goal: to raise the bar even higher and push closer to the top of the Ski Classics Pro Tour. One of the athletes leading this charge is Lauri Mannila, who has left sprint skiing behind to pursue success in long-distance skiing, to reach the very top of the sport.
Speaking to Maastohiihto.com during the Vuokatti training camp, Mannila explained that long-distance skiing has interested him for some time, and the lack of sprint competitions in Finland had worn down his motivation. It was time to find a new spark.
“In Ski Classics, I already know in the spring what races are coming up next winter, and I can train accordingly. That’s a completely different kind of motivation compared to sprint skiing, where there are few races and you have to be in peak shape already early in the season to qualify for the bigger events,” Mannila said, explaining his reasons for the switch.
While long-distance skiing is known for its focus on double poling, how does a former sprint specialist like Mannila approach the intense training required for it?
“Double poling feels good so far. Of course, we’re still early in the training season, but I’ve already gotten into it quite well. I like double poling; it’s been one of my strengths even before. Naturally, the discipline changes a bit when you’re poling for such long stretches, but it’s already close to my heart,” he said.
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Full Season Ahead
Mannila is aiming to ski the entire Ski Classics Pro Tour season, known for its length and intensity. Still, he isn’t too concerned about maintaining his form through a long winter.
“In that sense, there’s no real difference compared to before. The races are spaced throughout the season, and the calendar now includes clear breaks that allow for proper training at home. One big difference compared to sprints is that every Ski Classics race also acts as a solid training session, even if you’re not at your absolute best on race day. In sprinting, if a race doesn’t go well, it actually sets you back because the training load is so light. I believe I’ll be able to build my fitness in a way that it lasts the whole season.”
Mannila was already familiar with Team Edux, having raced a few Ski Classics events with them last winter. He describes the team environment as both motivating and supportive.
“It was really easy to join the group. It’s great to be part of this team; we have a good vibe, and we train hard together.”
Currently, Team Edux is the only Finnish Pro Team in the Ski Classics series, a situation Mannila finds somewhat concerning.
“Right now, the whole thing is pretty much on us. There have been other efforts before, a couple of other teams, but now it’s just us. The scene is quite small, and Finland doesn’t really have a long-distance skiing culture. We’re trying to keep it alive and develop it further.”
Race Preferences and Goals
Looking ahead to next season, Mannila believes that fast-paced races will suit him best, while courses with long, gradual climbs may be more challenging in the beginning.
“Based on the profile, Vasaloppet should suit me pretty well. It’s a long race, of course, but I don’t see why it couldn’t work out already next winter. For me, maintaining a high pace efficiently is likely to be my strength. It’s still hard to say which race will suit me best, maybe that will become clearer during this training season.”
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Author: Teemu Virtanen
Photos: Teemu Virtanen and Team Edux
