When Anders Aukland retired in April, the Norwegian Ski Classics Legend was clear that he had finished his professional career. He was going to do “other things” and admitted that he feared his fitness and physique would decline.

“I will miss being in good shape, but I miss that already. I was in better shape ten years ago,” Aukland said when he ‘retired’ after the Ski Classics Season XIV.

At the same time, Aukland hinted that he would not stop training and would still be involved in Team Ragde Charge, the Ski Classics Pro Team he runs with his brother Jørgen. 

“I will probably come back,” Aukland said at the time.  

Read More Here – Anders Aukland: “I will miss being in good shape”

Now, the Legend says he feels stronger than ever. 

“Come back” in August

At the end of the summer, Aukland showed up again with a start number. In the Trysil sprint the day before Alliansloppet, Aukland made it to the final in a starting field worthy of the World Cup. 

There, the “newly retired” athlete beat out Simen Hegstad Krüger, Hans Christer Holund, and an impressive list of elite skiers. 

“It’s a bit of a comeback,” Aukland told Langrenn.com with a smile after the show sprint in Trysil. 

“It’s just too much fun, but it was good to get a little taste of blood again.”

By the way, Even Northug won the Trysil sprint ahead of Pål Trøan Aune and Petter Northug. 

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He changed his training, never been stronger

Aukland says he has trained what he wants since retiring and has trained in various ways. 

“I like to be in shape, so I do some training. That’s what I do. But it’s just for fun,” Anders says. 

And Aukland has changed his training. The 4–5-hour sessions are few and far between, and he rarely trains really tough intervals. 

“I’ve started training shorter sessions. I do maybe half an hour of running and an hour of strength training. What I do is semi-hard, not blood-hard. Then I have very few long sessions,” Aukland tells NRK.

The change means that he now trains significantly fewer hours than before. In addition, he is strength training every day. 

“I feel stronger, not a lot, but a little. I think it’s because I’ve trained less endurance and fewer hours,” says Aukland. 

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Anders Aukland will still be involved in his Pro Team, Team Ragde Charge, but in a manager and coaching role. 

“I will be one of the leaders of the team, together with Magnar (Dalen) and Jørgen (Aukland). We will get the others on the team to win ski races. That’s the goal,” he tells Langrenn.com about the upcoming season.  

Anders Aukland is, however, not registered for Klarälvsloppet on Sunday. But many are wondering whether the Ski Classics Legend will be able to leave his start number behind when the snow settles. 

You can follow Klarälvsloppet live on SC Play from 8:00 CET with Pro Team athlete Katerina Paul, and Teemu Virtanen leading the viewers through this weekend’s broadcast on SC Play. 

Klarälvsloppet – Live Here on SC Play!

There is nothing to suggest that Anders Aukland is not in good shape. And the man who turned 51 on September 12 still has an active license with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). 

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