Team GS8 was one of the new Pro Teams in Ski Classics during Season XVI. Here, Pro Team Director and athlete Gabriel Strid talks about the team’s first year and its future.
Team GS8 is one of the newest Pro Teams on the Ski Classics circuit. Gabriel Strid, who previously competed for Exsitec Ski Team, decided last summer to start his own team.
Also Read: Team GS8 – Pro Team presentation Season XVI
Achieved Their Big Goal
In their first Ski Classics season, Team GS8 finished 25th overall. This secured them a spot in next year’s edition of the Pro Tour series.
“Our first season went well, and we achieved our big goal of finishing in the top 25 overall. We’ve been represented at all Pro Tour events and had many athletes with new personal bests,” says Pro Team Director Gabriel Strid to Langd.se.
As a completely new team, they had a limited budget. That makes Gabriel especially pleased with achieving their goal of finishing in the top 25.
“I’m most proud that we even managed to launch the team this year. We had no athletes signed just days before the application deadline, and we made the decision to start quite late in the summer.”
See also: More information about the team
Looking for Athletes Willing to Fully Commit
During the season, Team GS8 collaborated with some of the biggest teams to ensure the best conditions.
“We are very happy and grateful for the partnerships we had with some of the major teams during the season. We think the collaborations worked very well and hope for something similar for the upcoming season.”
What’s the situation in the team—anyone leaving or new joining?
“This year we’ve had a great team with lots of laughs and good memories. There will definitely be some new athletes coming in, while some will be leaving. Nothing is fully decided at the moment, and we’re looking around trying to find athletes who really want to develop and fully commit. Someone who is ready to put in the work and be 100% on board with our setup.”
What’s the goal for next season?
“The goal for the upcoming season is to take another step up in the standings and to have at least four athletes starting in every race. Long-term, we want to become one of the biggest teams, but right now we’re focused on building a stable foundation,” he concludes.
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Photo: Barbieri/NordicFocus
