By Johan Trygg
Yesterday we could tell that the Swedish Pro Team, Team Curira, recruited the Norwegian Stian Holegaard. Now another Norwegian is joining a Swedish Pro Team.
Torgeir Sulen Hovland strengthens Jerry Ahrlin’s Team Engcon.
“Torgeir has all the qualities required to succeed in long distance skiing,” says Ahrlin.
Torgeir Sulen Hovland is 26 years old and from Tromsø in the north part of Norway. He has performed well in both the Scandinavian Cup, the Norwegian Cup, and the Norwegian championships. In the Scandinavian Cup, Hovland has been on the podium in sprint.
“I see him as a skier who can compete with the very best athletes in the Pro Tour. He is fast, young, and with good capacity,” says Jerry Ahrlin.
Sulen Hovland did his first races in the Pro Tour at Vålådalsrennet and Tåssåsen Criterium 64 and finished as 32nd and 31st despite a difficult starting position at the back of the field and without special training.
“It felt good, even if it was not enough for top places. Now I am really eager to train hard for the coming season in Visma Ski Classics. It feels motivating to try something new. I’m very happy that Jerry and Team Engcon give me this opportunity,” says Sulen Hovland.
What is your goal?
“The main goal in Season XII will be to reach a top ten position. Maybe you need a year to adapt to what is required for long distance skiing.”
Torgeir has a good training partner, to say the least, in Team Ragde Eiendom’s Andreas Nygaard up in Tromsø.
“We are good friends and train together. It was Andreas who made me test the races in Vålådalen. Now the focus will be on a lot of double poling training. I will put away my skate skis,” Sulen Hovland ends.
