The Danish Skimarathon Team started the season with its first official Ski Classics races in Bad Gastein. First at the Pro Team Tempo, where the team finished 22nd, then the Criterium, where Joachim Trane finished the race within the top 100 (97th), and Sune Elmuse at the 111th position. The week later, at La Venosta Criterium, Björn Toft finished 73rd. This group of Danes will be racing all the Central European races, but not always with a full team. 

The goal of spreading the passion for long-distance skiing throughout Denmark comes with a significant effort, at least for the team’s athletes. The first Danish Pro Team competing at the long-distance circuit will be doing it without any formal financial support, apart from the efforts of its team athletes. But how challenging can this be? ProXCskiing talked to Björn Toft to understand how the Dane squad will face the season.

The “Workers’ Pro Team” from Denmark

“Danish Skimarathon Team is a new team; luckily, the members are all workers earning their way in their respective professions, alongside their passion. They decided to focus on the training required for the coming season and lay the groundwork for next year,” says Pro Team Director and athlete Björn Toft, showing optimism about the work his team athletes will be doing, and adds: 

“We had hoped for something else, but at the same time, we are a small team with limited human resources, and we had to try to keep our focus on training.”  

When Danish Skimarathon Team decided to sign for a Pro Team license, all its team members agreed that if they didn’t secure any official sponsorship, they would pay their expenses. 

“You can thus say that the joy of the sport drives the whole team, and we see and promote ourselves as a “workers’ team.” One of our inspirations is the Danish cyclists in the old days, carpenters, brick workers, and more, that had long, hard days of labor but still managed to go out training and racing.” 

“We want to be the modern version of these cyclists, but in cross-country skiing since cycling has been transformed to anything but a workers’ sport,” says Björn, while also adding that the inclusiveness on the Ski Classics circuit, where both the world’s best skiers and beginners start at the same time, is a concept that attracts his team.

Laying the Ground for Future Partnerships

Despite having yet to find a financial partner, the Danish Skimarathon Team is lucky to have the support of Northug and Alpina Ski Boots. 

“We are grateful for their support, and it means a lot to us,” says Björn. 

“Additionally, we just recently confirmed sports nutrition support from Brix, which will help us lower the costs throughout the race calendar.”

Danish Skimarathon Team has just found another non-financial partnership, which they hope can evolve into a deeper relationship over the following seasons. 

“Over the past few weeks, an old friend from the cycling community and his startup company, Doing Zero, came to an agreement. Doing Zero specializes in non-alcoholic beer. Non-alcoholic beer is a good option for thirst and recovery after workouts without the negative effects from alcohol.”

“It will be tough in our first season with results, but we will continue to work very hard and have already been able to make this team happen,” says Björn at the end of our talk.

The upcoming Ski Classics Pro Tour event is Pustertaler Ski Marathon, a 62km classic technique event in Italy on January 14, followed by Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, a 30km race also in Italy on January 15, 2023.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)

• Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
• Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
• Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km 
• Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
• Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 30km
• Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 55km 
• Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
• Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
• Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km

More info about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.