By Johan Trygg
Pro Teams face varying challenges when it comes to having training camps in these extraordinary times.
For Team Nordic Athlete, with athletes from Finland, Sweden and Norway, this means that a planned camp on Idre Fjäll, in the southern part of the Swedish mountains, the coming week, will be replaced with a virtual training camp where the athletes train at home but according to a mutual plan.
Team Nordic Athlete consists of the Finnish athletes Niko Koskela, Viktor Mäenpää, Hans Mäenpää and Hannes Mäenpää from former team Team Mäenpää. The new athletes are: Norwegian Morten Eide Pedersen, from Team Kaffebryggeriet and the two Swedish girls Linn Sömskar and Hedda Bångman, Visma Ski Classics newcomers season XI.
“We had planned for a camp where we would continue to develop and exchange experiences with each other. However, we will, of course, follow the Swedish Public Health Agency’s recommendations in Sweden and the same authorities in Norway and Finland and do what we can to reduce the risk of infection,” says Espen Traeldal, Team Nordic Athletes Sports Director.
“We decided to change the camp this time and instead have a virtual camp. Each skier will train at home but according to a mutual plan. Those who are interested can follow how the training progresses via social media under the hashtag #teamnordicathlete,” Traeldal continues
For all athletes except Hedda Bångman, the training goes according to plan.
“Hedda has an injured foot and has to take a step back in training for a few more weeks. Everyone else is healthy,” says Traeldal.
The new Pro Teams second place at the 12-hour relay Blink Team Classic last weekend was an injection for the team. In that event, Morten Eide Pedersen, Linn Sömskar and Viktor Mäenpää represented the Pro team.
The athletes will continue to train individually for the upcoming season and aims to inspire others.
“We think that in these special times, it is important to continue to train and inspire others to live healthy and work with your body to cope with the stresses we face,” Espen Traeldal concludes.
