“The season as a whole was very good. The form was consistently good, and I managed many of the goals I had set before the season,” says Magni Smedås.

“I had probably hoped to go a little more to the World Cup, considering what I delivered in the selection races, but I am pleased. Especially the end of the season, with three National Championships medals and a personal best in classic with a 4th place in the 10km in the Nationals. So all in all, I’m very happy.”

This winter, the 26-year-old representing Lillehammer Ski Club competed in some long-distance skiing races. She has debuted with several top places and visited the podium in Ski Classics. This shows the great potential Magni has in long-distance skiing, and as captain of Team Eksjöhus, she fits well.

The regional team skier on Team Elon Innlandet debuted in Ski Classics almost out of desperation: new restrictions in connection with the Omicron variant meant that some of the planned races were postponed or canceled. 

“I raced some long-distance competitions this winter for Team Eksjöhus, and it has been a lot of fun. Getting into a new environment, traveling to new places, meeting new people, trying your hand at slightly longer distances, and measuring your strengths against the world’s best double polers.”

“Last year has been tough, and now I feel that I need a change. It is not the case to give up my dedication to traditional cross-country skiing, even though I am now switching to long-distance skiing. I think I can also become a much better all-around skier from this. But being a skier is so much more than just traditional cross-country skiing.”

“Ski Classics is getting bigger and bigger, and the level higher, and I want to be part of that development and challenge myself in new areas,” says Smedås.

Many have previously questioned how high the level is among long-distance skiers. Whether it is “only” retired skiers who have had enough of their traditional commitment or whether it is as good as it seems to those who sit and watch.

Sky-high Level 

“I think it became clear during Birken that the level in long-distance skiing is sky-high, also on the women’s side. Before, there has been an attitude in Norway that “those who fail to reach the top in the context of the World Cup” switch to long-distance skiing, but this is certainly no longer the case.”

“In Sweden, young talented juniors choose to go directly to long-distance skiing when they become seniors. Just look at Ida Dahl. The women in long-distance skiing are strong, and it will be fun to help raise the level further, although I wish Britta Johansson Norgren and Lina Korsgren still had a little more before they gave up.”

“I received several good offers from different teams, but I have been with Team Eksjöhus this winter and enjoyed it. I have had a sense of security with good skis, good service equipment, skilled team leaders, a high well-being factor, and a good environment within the team. The security and well-being make me choose Team Eksjöhus in the end,” says Magni.

There are slightly better financial conditions in long-distance skiing than in traditional cross-country skiing, especially if one compares with those outside the national team.

“For the first time in my career, it will be nice to be paid to be on a team. This choice means that I can now get a little better financially and more freedom. It feels good to be able to make a living from it.”

“Regardless of whether I can now use everyday life for what I want in terms of finances, I will continue to take shifts as BPA and be a bit of a coach for the para-group in Lillehammer Ski Club. These are two different jobs that give me extremely much as a human being.”

“I think it is important to have something other than just commitment to the sport, and for me, it is great to be able to go to work and ‘just be Magni.’ The job will be my little sanctuary,” says Smedås.

“Last winter, I showed that my training is very good, so I will train something all-around to maintain my qualities. But there will be several long double poling training and “Ski Classics specific” sessions, and I look forward to that.”

More Specific Training 

“It was probably the lack of the specific training that has broken me this winter, so hopefully, there will not be as many cramps in the ski races next winter.”

Magni Smedås had Marthe Kristoffersen as coach of the regional Team Elon Innlandet. Now she switches to Oskar Svärd, and they will have a close dialogue.

“I will not have the physical follow-up I received from Marthe almost daily last year, but now I am old enough to know myself and my body well. I manage to control a lot of the training myself in everyday life, so I must be good at using my head and not getting too greedy.”

“We will meet about once a month until the start of the season, starting this June. So I’m looking forward to it. Frequent gatherings also provide security in ensuring profits and progress.”

Magni Smedås has planned that the summer semester will include some competitions to break up the training routine. There will be the Kirkebakken Grand Prix in June, the Blink Festival at the beginning of August, and the Allianloppet at the end. She also does not rule out some running competitions.