Tereza Hujerová, a young skier who competed for the Czech Pro Team Slavia Pojišťovna, is now a member of Team Robinson Trentino. In this interview, the Czech long-distance skier talks about her goals and summer training, showing that her new team is helping her find the right motivation to continue.
When the Covid-19 outbreak began, Tereza Hujerová was a young skier focusing mainly on traditional cross-country skiing. But with the cancelation of most events throughout Europe, Tereza decided to try long-distance skiing. And she got hooked.
Now, after having competed for two seasons with Slavia Pojišťovna Sport Team Z.S., the Czech skier is training with a different team; from a region she loves, the Italian Alps. Team Robinson Trentino will now help the development of the young skier, who is motivated for the upcoming Ski Classics Season XIV.
Why did you decide to focus on long-distance skiing, and what has been the impact of Slavia Pojišťovna Sport Team Z.S. on your athletic development?
“My path related to Ski Classics started in the season 2019/2020 when I did three Pro Tour races during that winter. But during that time, my focus was still on traditional skiing and popular races. The next season was affected by Covid-19 restrictions, and there were not so many events to race. So, I decided to do a complete Ski Classics season. I really liked that and realized; that this is the way I want to continue. So, I changed my training a bit to add more double poling sessions and become a long-distance skier, and I could do almost all races only by double poling. Slavia Pojišťovna Sport Team Z.S. gave me the chance to become a part of the great Ski Classics family.”
What have been the best and not so good moments of your long-distance skiing career so far?
“Like everyone else, I had and will have bad and good moments throughout my career. I can’t say which ones were the best and the worst, but there are some I will remember. But for me, the worst time was at the beginning of the 2020/2021 season, when there were no races, and it was like waiting for something you don’t know when it will come.”
How has been the experience of meeting your new Pro Team in Italy? And what kind of support are you expecting from Team Robinson Trentino?
“I really like the Italian Alps’ nature, and I did a lot of camps there also before. So, I was looking forward to the time spent there with the team. We had nice days, and I think we did a great job and enjoyed long sessions together. I made new friends and found a new motivation to continue training at such a high level. Life is about changes, and this one was the thing I needed the most. Now I know we can do a good job with Team Robinson Trentino and enjoy at the same time.”
How is summer training going, and what are your plans for summer racing?
“Summer training is going well. Until now, I have been training mostly at my home in the Jizera mountains. I had a training camp in Trentino and some rollerskiing races across the Czech Republic. For the rest of summer and autumn, I plan to do one camp in the Alps on my own during August, then another in September with the team, again in Trentino. At the end of August, I am traveling to Sweden to race at Alliansloppet.”
“My goals? To be honest, I’m not particularly eager to talk about it. But okay, I want to become more familiar with double poling and then be able to fight and give my all during the whole race season, which is still hard for me. And in the language of numbers, my goal is to get into the top 20 in some races. And my own small wish is to fight for top 3 in the Youth competition.”
