By Johan Trygg
One year ago, Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Koteng, won Engadin La Diagonela in superior style.
Now she is back in the Engadin valley - but unsure of her form.
"The shape feels a little worse than I had hoped for," says Astrid.
At Engadin La Diagonela last winter, Astrid Øyre Slind did a fantastic race and won three and a half minutes ahead of her teammate Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes. The margin to third and fourth-placed Katerina Smutná, eD System Bauer Team, and Britta Johansson Norgren, Lager 157 Ski Team, was around six minutes.
A few days before this year's edition of Engadin La Diagonela, however, Astrid is unsure of where she stands in terms of form.
"I'm unsure about how the shape will feel. It feels a little worse than I hoped. I plan to take the upcoming races to get in shape," says Astrid.
"But the height and the race track here suits me fine. We will see how it turns out," she continues.
Since Saturday, Team Koteng has been in the Engadin valley and made the final preparations for the Season XI start.
"It has been cold but very nice conditions. We have been sitting with the morning coffee for a while and then went out when the sun started to warm up," says Astrid.
Astrid is happy to have a new teammate on the women's side this winter in Emilie Fleten. When Astrid won La Diagonela during season X, her then teammate Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes was second. When she put the skis on the shelf this spring, Team Koteng recruited Emilie Fleten, who represented Team Ragde Eiendom during season X.
"It feels so nice to have Emilie on the team. We are neighbors in Trondheim and have trained a lot together. It feels like she's taken some steps ahead of this winter," Astrid ends.
Then remember that Fleten was second at Jizerska in Season X, just about 40 seconds behind Britta Johansson Norgren.
