As a step towards her main goal of competing at the 2025 World Championships on home soil next year, Astrid Øyre Slind has focused on the World Cup and traditional cross-country skiing this season. Now, she is ready for her comeback at Ski Classics.

Øyre Slind has so far only started one Ski Classics event this season. It was back in January at Marcialonga (where she did not finish), her first competition weeks after falling ill during the Tour de Ski. 

But in the final part of the World Cup, Øyre Slind was back in the top five and ten in almost every race. During the Norwegian Championships part 1, she and her siblings won the relay by far. During the Norwegian Championships part 2, she took bronze in the 30km race. 

Read More: Upcoming plans for Astrid Øyre Slind

Now, the 36-year-old is back with a focus on long-distance skiing, and she’s looking forward to it. This weekend, 110 kilometers await her, divided between the 50km Reistadløpet on Saturday and the 60km Summit 2 Senja on Sunday. Last year, she won both, and she has been on the podium every time she has started Reistadløpet.  

“Reistadløpet has normally been one of my best races, and doing two races back-to-back in one weekend is something I’m completely comfortable with,” says Astrid Øyre Slind ahead of this weekend’s events. 

This year, however, the outcome can be a little different. On the start line are both the World Cup elite and Pro Team athletes, including Ski Classics rival Magni Smedås, who beat her in the 30km race at the Norwegian Championships alongside Therese Johaug. 

“I haven’t double-poled as much this year, so the muscular aspect will be a bigger challenge than the fitness. But I’m in good shape, and I go to every race with the desire to win.” 

Also Read: World elite will meet this weekend in Norway

Reistadløpet – Video Highlights Season XIV

Summit 2 Senja – Video Highlights Season XIV

Ski Classics Season XV

Ski Classics continues with Season XV in another double Pro Tour event over the weekend. Reistadløpet on Saturday, April 6, and Summit 2 Senja on Sunday, April 7, mark the 13th and 14th stages of Season XV.

Reistadløpet – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 13

• Date: April 6, 2024
• Distance: 50km Classic Technique
• Place: Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway
• Start Time: Women 10:00 CET / Men 10:30 CET
• Website: Reistadløpet   
• Live Center: Reistadløpet 
• SC Play: Reistadløpet 

More information about Reistadløpet can be found HERE and HERE

Summit 2 Senja – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 14

• Date: April 7, 2024
• Distance: 60km Classic Technique
• Place: Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway
• Start Time: Men 9:00 CET / Women 9:05 CET
• Website: Summit 2 Senja  
• Live Center: Summit 2 Senja 
• SC Play: Summit 2 Senja  

More information about Summit 2 Senja can be found HERE and HERE

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV

The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries. The season started in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 9, 2023, and will end in Norway with the 100km Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet on April 13, 2024.

Next up is Reistadløpet on April 6 and Summit 2 Senja on April 7. The events mark the 13th and 14th Ski Classics stages of Ski Classics Season XV.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV (2023/2024)

• Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
• Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 35km 
• Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
• Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
• Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 55km
• Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 11, 2024 – Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
• Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
• Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
• Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
• Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com