Stina Nilsson will focus on long-distance races and Ski Classics moving forward. The 31-year-old was clear about this in an interview previously published on ProXCskiing.com. 

Read More – Stina Nilsson: “My focus and motivation are long-distance races and Ski Classics”

But she also made it clear that there is some uncertainty about the long-distance life that now awaits her: 

“I’m taking this step because, in my world, I’ve always wanted to try all three (traditional cross-country skiing, biathlon, and long-distance skiing). I feel like I’m entering unknown waters, but I’m not speculating about what will be easy or difficult. Instead, it’s a challenge I’m excited to take on,” says Nilsson to Langd.se. 

You’ve now trained as a long-distance skier for some months. What have you learned so far?

“I’ve been a professional athlete since 2012, so I know what this job and lifestyle entail. I know it involves a lot of training and a focus on recovery. When it comes to potential differences between different sports, I’ll have a clearer picture by spring when I’ve gone through a full season. But I’m already noticing some differences, and biathlon stands out the most from the other two since you have a coach and a lot is done the same way as everyone else. Long-distance skiing is different because it involves a lot of focus on double-poling training and long sessions,” Nilsson says. 

“I’ve learned so far that I can’t rely solely on motivation when it comes to training because it can easily become too much. In my world, there are no limits to how much I can train. But the body has its limits. So, it’s important to differentiate between what my mind can handle and what my body can physically endure. This is a balancing act for all athletes, but for me, there is great respect for the long sessions with only double-poling and the strain that puts on, for example, elbows and back,” says Nilsson. 

To ensure that the load is balanced, she has chosen to include a completely different form of training – cycling. 

How much do you train with the team and on your own? 

“We have camps with Ragde (Team Ragde Charge) once a month. They’re fun camps with a good atmosphere and strong training morale; everyone wants to progress. Then I see how much they double-pole, and I want to ski as much as them right away, but I’ve had to include quite a lot of cycling to avoid the double-poling load becoming too tough. I’m gradually increasing the length of the double-poling sessions step by step,” says Stina Nilsson. 

Nilsson has chosen not to compete in any of the summer’s long-distance roller ski races but instead focuses on getting into long-distance skiing. 

But this weekend at Klarälvsloppet, it’s time for her debut as a long-distance skier. There, she’ll get her first sense of how she measures against the competition. The 90-kilometer roller ski race from Uddeholm to Karlstad in Sweden is considered one of the most important races of the fall for the long-distance elite. 

Also Read: Challengers Klarälvsloppet takes place next weekend

The women’s elite race starts at 9:05 CET on Sunday. Last year, the winning time in the women’s class was 3:53:09. Stina Nilsson has respect for the distance. 

“I’ve never skied 90 kilometers in a race before. It will be a good check of where I stand compared to the others and what I need to train more on heading into the season,” she says. 

Klarälvsloppet live-streamed this weekend on SC Play

On Sunday, September 22, the Ski Classics Challengers circuit continues with Klarälvsloppet, a 90-kilometer roller ski race in classic technique in Sweden. On SC Play, you can watch the event live from 8:45 CET. 

Klarälvsloppet is a 90km long-distance roller ski event in Karlstad. The event is Sweden’s longest roller ski race, and the course cuts right through the Värmland countryside following the river Klarälven, a 90km paved nature experience.

KLARÄLVSLOPPET – LIVE HERE ON SC PLAY!

The SC Play app is available to download for iOS, Android, and Apple TV. You can watch on your television, mobile device, and computer. SC Play is a part of The Ski Community and is accessible to all members on news sites ProXCskiing.com, Langd.se, Langrenn.com, and Maastohiihto.com. 

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