Oskar Svärd is one of Sweden’s most successful cross-country skiers. He has seven victories in Ski Classics (three at Vasaloppet). Last season and the season before, he was the Pro Team Director for Team Eksjöhus and was involved in starting the team. This Saturday, he is an expert commentator at the live-streamed Janteloppet on SC Play.

It will be the Ski Classics Legend Oskar Svärd, together with host Kjell-Erik Kristiansen, who (in English) lead the viewers through this weekend’s broadcast on SC Play. 

SC PLAY – WATCH JANTELOPPET HERE

Here, Svärd looks back on the season:

“If you look at the team side, Team Eksjöhus has continued its development. The team is in its third year and, from the start, had the goal of becoming the world’s best long-distance team within three years. It takes time to build a long-distance team; many things must fall into place. But now the team looks set to reach the tough goal,” says Svärd and adds:

“I am convinced that most people agree with that, even if I am biased there with my background. Espen and Marthe (Pro Team Director Träldal and Sports Director Kristoffersen) have done well. Still, I must highlight the service side, where the waxing manager, Luca Angelini, has done an incredible job. I assess that Eksjöhus had the best skiing over the whole season. And the skis are a prerequisite.”

“It is a team where many skiers have developed. Thomas Ødegaarden and Kati Roivas have come from smaller teams and made great strides. Sofie (Elebro) has risen, and I also think that the fact that she changed the ski brand is part of the explanation. Magni (Smedås) has shown in several races that she is as good as last year, but she had a troubled summer and autumn, which ruined her chances of seriously fighting for the Yellow bib. But she can certainly be a skier for the Yellow bib for next season if she does not choose to focus on the World Championships in Trondheim.”

Emilie Fleten has been in the lead in the fight for the Yellow Champion bib from the first poling in Bad Gastein on December 9, 2023. Last weekend, she secured the overall victory:

“Emilie won Vasaloppet last year, and after that, it felt like ‘another dimension.’ It is always fascinating with a skier who skis at such a high level over an entire season. And what impresses the most are the many solo races she has done. There is so much that must be right to achieve those efforts. Then it must be said, and without detracting from Emilie’s effort, it is said that the other top names throughout the season did not perform at as high a level as before. Astrid (Øyre Slind) has mainly focused on traditional (cross-country skiing). Ida (Dahl) had a few competitions where she was very strong but then had a lot of trouble with illness, and Magni had a tough summer and autumn. But as I said, Emilie’s performance is awesome,” says Svärd.

Who else has impressed?

“If I were to highlight two skiers, it would be Amund Hoel, doing his first season where he focuses on long-distance skiing. He has focused on and won the Green bib. And his speed impresses me greatly; if you’re going to win races today, it’s often bunch sprints that decide, and if he develops endurance and focuses on the Yellow bib instead, he can take that step in the long run. Then I must lift Hanna Lodin, who came to Team Engcon from Ski Team Göhlins. She was twelfth last season; now she is sixth overall. That development impresses me.”

How about Johan Hoel, who looks to win the overall on the men’s side?

“He has performed at such a high level in recent years that I see it as no surprise that he wins the overall. Then, of course, it’s nice to see that a skier who is already so good can take the next step. And if you see what he did at Reistadløpet where he became the first winner to double pole, it is extremely impressive.”

Which ones did you have higher expectations for?

“Emil Persson is a skier, considering what he did last year. I don’t think any skier will ever be able to win nine races in one season again. Then the explanation for why he didn’t succeed this year, only Emil can answer that. As I said, if it was the illness into the season or something else, only Emil himself knows. The same thing happened to Ida Dahl with the illnesses she had. She showed when healthy that she is powerful, but the season as a whole is not at that level, at least I thought. Then, I had higher expectations for Team Ramudden’s guys. They are a pretty young bunch and have shown that they will be strong in the past, but looking at the whole season, I had higher expectations. And finally, Team Aker Daehlie. There has been a lot of speculation about the equipment, and I cannot judge that. But it is clear that they, as a team, did not perform at the level I expected. The fact that they are further down in the team competition this year depends a lot on the fact that Astrid (Øyre Slind) focused on traditional in the first place,” says Svärd.

Next up is Janteloppet on Saturday, April 13. The 100-kilometer long-distance skiing race in classic technique marks the 15th and final Ski Classics stage Season XV.

Janteloppet – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 15

• Date: April 13, 2024
• Distance: 100km Classic Technique
• Place: Mosetertoppen, Norway
• Start Time: Men 8:00 CET / Women 8:05 CET
• Website: Janteloppet  
• Live Center: Janteloppet
• SC Play: Janteloppet 

More information about Janteloppet can be found HERE and HERE

Read More: All you need to know ahead of Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet 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