Lager 157 Ski Team’s Season XIV was synonymous with Emil Persson’s massive winning streak. He won nine events in the Ski Classics Pro Tour and was thus utterly superior in the fight for the Yellow bib, with another bib for the Swedish Pro Team with Karolina Hedenström, who took home the Pink Youth bib.

Season XV was different in many ways, not least when Emil Persson fell ill just before the competition season was to start:

“So if you see what he did last year as the norm, it’s challenging, to say the least, to reach those successes the following season as well. Because what he did was incredible. But if we look at Emil’s season, several things have gone a little wrong, but nothing has gone terribly wrong. He is incredibly ambitious and perhaps exceeded the limit during the summer,” says Lager 157 Ski Team Pro Team Director Anton Järnberg to Langd.se and adds: 

“This, combined with the fact that he got sick on the way into the season, was a hunt first to get healthy and then to find form. Then, he had a few races where he was in excellent shape. Marcialonga and Vasaloppet, for example. This means that I am not particularly worried about next season. We will solve this.”

Also Read: The complete Pro Team Ranking Season XV

How do you see the past season as a team?

“I am very pleased. After the previous season, we had big goals. But we did it with enthusiasm, and we won two of the three big races. Five different men’s skiers were on the podium. And Karro (Karolina Hedenström) was on the podium and won the Youth bib, so it was a very good season.”

What is the strongest memory?

“I would say Runar’s (Skaug Mathisen) victory in Marcialonga. We have worked so hard and for so long that the team should be strong and leading; this is the first time we have fully achieved that. We won Marcialonga in a way that we worked for for several years. After all, it’s nice to see Runar, who is such an excellent skier, but at the same time, none of our most high-profile skiers manage to win such a big race.”

How about Vasaloppet?

“Well, it was a completely crazy day. 17-year-old Alvar on the podium. Torleif, who works full time, was so incredibly strong. And the whole way, we controlled the race from the first poling. But as I said, Marcialonga was the first time, so it stands out a little extra.”

What have you done well?

“On the one hand, we have lifted ourselves as a team and reached another level in several areas. But if I highlight just one thing, it’s how we tackled our challenges with the equipment before Christmas. We failed miserably the first two weekends. The second weekend, we had no men’s skiers in the tight group of 27 skiers after 10km. But we did not panic; we worked hard, found the right way, and came back very strong to the first weekends after the New Year break. I think we did very well,” says Järnberg.

What can you develop?

“We want to continue on our path, so there is some development there. Then we have a preponderance in success and number of skiers on the men’s side, so developing the women’s side is something we work hard for and are passionate about. Karro is taking it step by step; won Pink again, was on the podium, and is always developing. Then, in the long term, we want to be a major power on the women’s side, just like we were with Britta (Johansson Norgren).”

When will the squad for next season be ready?

“It will be during May. Then we will see whether it is at the beginning of May or in connection with the first camp at the end of May. And there, it depends on whether there are any regular changes from Ski Classics regarding how we should or may build the team.

To conclude, how do you see Torleif Syrstad’s season, winning not one but two Pro Tour events? 

“It is super impressive. Torleif has been a dedicated, ambitious skier who has trained hard for many years. Now, there was a change in his training life, and he had to make corrections in training. I think that is something that I believe can open the eyes of others, says Anton Järnberg, Lager 157 Ski Team Pro Team Director.