By Johan Trygg
Pictures by T-W Media
The winter is approaching in the upper half of Sweden. The snow has begun to fall in the more upland parts. However, roller-skis are still what most athletes train on. As the season approaches, it will also be more interesting to see how different athletes perform on roller-skis.
On Sunday, Grönklitt Double Poling Hill Climb was arranged in Orsa Grönklitt; 18 kilometers, mainly uphill, and with an elevation of 400 meters and only double poling was allowed. The location of the race was about 20 km north of the Vasaloppet finish in Mora.
The strongest athletes in the challenging race were Team Serneke’s Pontus Nordström and Britta Johansson Norgren, Lager 157 Ski Team.
Nordström, who is really a rising star, won two seconds ahead of Lager 157 Ski Team's new recruitment Øyvind Moen Fjeld. The third was his teammate Andreas Holmberg, two seconds behind. The fourth place went to the double Olympic champion in the relay, Daniel Rickardsson, representing his club Hudiksvalls IF. Rickardsson was seven seconds behind Nordström.
Johansson Norgren crossed the finish line at the top of Grönklitts mountaintop 17 seconds ahead of Lina Korsgren, Team Ramudden. Number three was Laila Kveli wearing the new Team Engcon’s colors. However, Kveli was 4.32 minutes after Britta. The entire trio is all former winners of Vasaloppet; Britta 2017, 2019, Lina 2018, Laila 2013, 2014.
At Orsa Grönklitt, an artificial ski track will be opened in a couple of weeks, and Lager 157 Ski Team will have their early snow training camp there.
“The temperature has been below the freezing point, and on October 25 we are going to open a trail with saved snow”, says Marcus Laggar sports manager in Orsa Grönklitt but also waxing manager in Lager 157 Ski Team.
