This time of the year, training conditions are different for different Pro Teams. Some train on snow on glaciers; some continue to prepare on roller skis and some can train on artificial snow or saved snow from last winter.
Team Nordic Athlete is on a two-week training camp at Idre Fjäll in the southern part of the Swedish mountains. Idre Fjäll just put out a loop of almost five kilometers with saved snow from last winter.
“Today it was fantastic conditions. Blue skies and minus 3 degrees Celsius,” says Team Nordic Athletes sports manager Espen Traeldal.
Five of the team’s athletes are on site to make the first training sessions on snow: The Pro team’s captain Norwegian Morten Eide Pedersen, the Swedish duo Linn Sömskar and Hedda Bångman and from Finland two Mäenpääs, Viktor and Hannes. Remaining at home in Finland are Hans Mäenpää and Niko Koskela.
Also present are sports director Espen Traeldal and wax manager Mats Mäenpää.
“This is a good opportunity to test new skis. The athletes can collect lots of kilometers and get used to be on skis again. It is a nice loop of almost five kilometers they offer here at Idre Fjäll. The destination has done an excellent job to create such good conditions; we really appreciate that,” says Traeldal.
“The athletes look strong and have done the training job this summer,” Traeldal continues.
Hedda Bångman, who will make her debut in Visma Ski Classics in season XI, is happy to be on snow because she is on her way back after a stress fracture in her foot. She has had to train a lot with SkiErg during the autumn.
“Today it was fantastic conditions with sun and perfect tracks. It was almost like spring skiing,” says Hedda.
Hedda Bångman enjoys the sun on Idre Fjäll on and off the ski track.
Yesterday it was not as lovely weather but good tracks. Here we see Linn Sömskar double poling.
