Sandra had a tough end to her season. In the spring, she had to undergo surgery and trained cautiously over the summer as much as her health allowed. But let’s start from the beginning…

This will be your fourth season in long-distance skiing. Do you already feel like an experienced skier, or are you still learning new things?

“I’ve gained some valuable experience, but I think there’s always more to learn. Besides, every season I’ve faced different problems, so no two seasons have been the same,” says Schützová to Bezky.net.

For several years, you were on the edge of the Czech national team. Some years you were part of it, and others you trained alone. Even now, you train alone most of the year. Does this suit you?

“Like everything, it has its pros and cons. Sometimes the situation forced me into it, and currently, most Czech long-distance skiers combine sports and work, so it’s even harder to coordinate training with someone. But I always welcome a training partner. When we manage to train together on weekends with Kája Grohová, we both enjoy it.”

Are you glad you switched to long-distance skiing?

“I’m glad because this was the direction I wanted to go. But I do miss traditional skiing. It raised me and taught me a lot. So, whenever I get the chance to race in traditional events, I’ll take it.”

Who is your coach, and how did you change your training when you switched to long-distance skiing?

“Martin Vrabec is my coach. In terms of training, we made changes in the sense that everything increased (laughs). So, more hours at both low and high intensity, and I do more double-poling training. But that came naturally as I got used to the movement and it became more efficient and comfortable for me.”

Do you change your plan every year, or do you stick to a proven routine?

“Regarding training camps, the changes are minimal, and Martin adjusts my training based on how I feel and, nowadays, on my health status. So, every year is essentially different.”

You mentioned your health… To give the readers context, in March at Birkebeinerrennet, you, unfortunately, hit a sports gel packet in the track during a steep downhill section near the finish, where racers reach speeds of up to 60 km/h or more. What happened?

“There was a gel packet with a Velcro strap in the track, which someone from the lead pack probably dropped. I was recovering from an illness and didn’t want to race at all. I was exhausted and didn’t notice the packet in time. It caught my foot, pulled me out of the track, and I tore my anterior cruciate ligament in my knee. Then I fell. When I couldn’t get up, I knew it was bad. It all went downhill from there – waiting for transport to the hospital, the team not being informed, and the reluctance to treat me as a foreigner. It was a terrible experience and a huge disappointment. I traveled home alone, and at the airport, the boarding pass scanner pinched me, and no one helped. It wasn’t until I arrived in Prague that they provided me with a wheelchair.”

You couldn’t finish the season and missed out on valuable points for the overall classification. You had to undergo surgery and rehab. How long did it take before you could return to training?

“Yes, that really hurt. Last season, I had some bad luck, but that’s part of the sport. I was well-prepared, but I didn’t manage to deliver as I had hoped. In February, just as I was getting into shape, I got sick and then injured. After the surgery, I was bedridden for three weeks, taking strong painkillers. When they removed the staples, my scar opened up, and I couldn’t exercise. The original prognosis was that I wouldn’t be able to do anything for three months, which devastated me. But after six weeks, things started to improve rapidly, and after three and a half months, I did my first roller ski race, and after four months, I did an exhibition sprint on snow in Livigno. So, the recovery has been quicker, but there’s still a lot of work ahead, and I need to be very cautious.”

You mentioned being satisfied with your summer preparation and feeling good during roller ski races. Is your knee fully functional now?

“The knee should be fine. At the five-month check-up, the doctor said it’s holding up, and I shouldn’t skip anything. But it still requires time, patience, and hard work. I wouldn’t want to go through this again.”

Do you think you’ve made up for the lost training?

“I wouldn’t say that missed training can ever really be made up. I’m working with what I have. My training is a bit different now, maybe still somewhat alternative. I had to cut out running/imitations, so I’ve only been able to train on roller skis and the bike. I haven’t included gym work yet. But I’m also working a lot with my physiotherapist.”

You were previously part of the Vltava Fund Ski Team, which merged in the spring with another Czech team, eD system (now eD system Vltava Fund Team). You weighed your options and ultimately received an offer from the Scandinavian Pro Team Kaffebryggeriet DRIV. It must be a great experience to be part of that team. How do you feel about it?

“I ended up receiving quite a few offers, but I chose the Norwegian team. I believe it can enrich me a lot and give me a boost after the surgery. It’s a challenge in many ways. Experiencing how a team operates will be a huge experience. I’m looking forward to the camps and the overall change.”

Read More: Team Kaffebryggeriet expands: Adds three new skiers and merges with Team DRIV

How do you evaluate your second place at Energamo Lipnolopet last weekend?

“I felt really good. I didn’t know what to expect, not because of my knee, but because I had COVID just 14 days before. I felt terrible and had to stay in bed for a week. It wasn’t the best preparation for the race. But in the end, everything turned out great. I knew that the final 6km uphill wouldn’t be my strongest point, especially with the diagonal stride, which I haven’t practiced much in training. That’s why I focused more on the sprint and climb bonuses, which I won ahead of Hedda. I was significantly stronger in double-poling and led most of the race. So, for me, it was a great test before winter. We’ll continue with the same training, and I’ll need to build more confidence in downhills, but that will come with snow.”

Also Read: Bing and Bångman winners of Energamo Lipnolopet 2024

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