Are you curious about the favorites for this season’s Pink Youth bib? Dive into the action with us at ProXCskiing.com as we uncover the next generation of phenoms and showcase their talents on the snowy stage.

Youth Competition

The Pink Youth bib is given to the best female and male athletes aged 26 or below. The athletes’ age is determined by the year when the Ski Classics final of the season takes place. Points in the Champion competition are used. The athlete’s single best result from a Ski Classics Challengers event is included. 

Ahead of the final Pro Tour events, the Pink bib in the Youth Competition rests on the shoulders of Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Thomas Ødegaarden, Team Eksjöhus. Who are the favorites for the Youth overall competition Season XV on the women’s and men’s sides? 

Also Read: Ski Classics Standings after Birkebeinerrennet 2024

Youth Women’s Favorites – Ski Classics Season XV 

Ahead of Reistadløpet, Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, is leading the Youth bib competition with 1218 points. Hanna Lodin, Team Engcon, is in second place with 1097 points, followed by Julie Kvale Støstad, Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso, in third place for the Pink bib with 940 points.

The Youth competition on the women’s side is intense this winter. Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team; Hanna Lodin, Team Engcon; and Julie Kvale Støstad, Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso, are the three biggest favorites who are having a fierce battle for the pink jersey. 

Karolina is a solid top-10 skier with results close to or at the podium. During Season XV, she was 3rd at Bad Gastein Criterium, 10th place at La Venosta Criterium, 4th at La Venosta ITT, 9th at 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, 10th place at Engadin La Diagonela, 8th position at Marcialonga, 7th at both Grönklitt Classic and ITT, 4th at Vasaloppet, and 9th at Birkebeinerrennet. 

Hanna’s positions were 9th at Bad Gastein Criterium, 8th at La Venosta Criterium, 7th at La Venosta ITT, 10th at 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, 8th at Engadin La Diagonela, 13th at Marcialonga, 11th at Grönklitt Classic, 10th at Grönklitt ITT, 6th at Vasaloppet, and 5th at Birkebeinerrennet.

Julie is showing good top-10 performances. She was in 17th place at Bad Gastein Criterium, 7th at La Venosta Criterium, 9th at La Venosta ITT, 11th at 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, 7th at Engadin La Diagonela, 23rd at Marcialonga, 12th at Grönklitt Classic, 13th at Grönklitt ITT, 9th at Vasaloppet, and 7th at Birkebeinerrennet.

These three Pro Tour skiers have had a solid performance throughout the season. The development is high in the competition, and a lot can happen during the final part of the season, but in general, Hedenström and Lodin will have a slight upper hand here. 

Youth Bib Favorites Women – Ski Classics Season XV

Karolina Hedenström

• Nationality: Sweden
• Date of Birth: 03.11.2000
• Pro Team: Lager 157 Ski Team
• Youth Competition: 1218 points
• Likelihood to win: 4 out of 5

Hanna Lodin

• Nationality: Sweden
• Date of Birth: 03.07.1999
• Pro Team: Team Engcon
• Youth Competition: 1097 points
• Likelihood to win: 3 out of 5

Julie Kvale Støstad

• Nationality: Norway
• Date of Birth: 10.07.1998
• Pro Team: Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso
• Youth Competition: 940 points
• Likelihood to win: 2 out of 5

Top 10 Youth Women Competition ahead of Reistadløpet

Youth Men Favorites – Ski Classics Season XV

Ahead of Reistadløpet, Thomas Ødegaarden, Team Eksjöhus, leads the Youth bib competition with 1194 points. Axel Jutterström, also from Team Eksjöhus, is in second place with 1132 points, followed by Amund Riege, Team Ramudden, in third place for the Pink bib with 887 points.

The Youth competition on the men’s side is intense this winter. Thomas Ødegaarden and Axel Jutterström are the big favorites for the Pink overall, with Amund Riege running behind trying to close the gap. 

Thomas’ positions were 29th at Bad Gastein Criterium, 5th at La Venosta Criterium, 3rd at La Venosta ITT, 10th at 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, 3rd at Engadin La Diagonela, 4th at Marcialonga, 8th at Grönklitt Classic, 9th at Grönklitt ITT, 4th at Vasaloppet, and 16th at Birkebeinerrennet, also being 4th overall in the Champion competition.

Axel is currently 5th place overall in the Champion competition, having solid top 10 results on this season’s Pro Tour events. During Season XV, he was 5th at Bad Gastein Criterium, 4th place at La Venosta Criterium, 2nd at La Venosta ITT, 5th at 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, 7th place at Engadin La Diagonela, 8th position at Marcialonga, 9th at Grönklitt Classic, 13th at Grönklitt ITT, 9th at Vasaloppet, and 21st at Birkebeinerrennet. 

Riege is showing some good performances. He was in 2nd place at Bad Gastein Criterium, 9th at La Venosta Criterium, 13th at La Venosta ITT, 15th at 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, 11th at Engadin La Diagonela, 14th at Marcialonga, 8th at Grönklitt ITT, 29th at Vasaloppet, and 9th at Birkebeinerrennet.

Ødegaarden and Jutterström have a solid performance throughout the season, and predicting the winner in the Youth competition is challenging. A lot can happen during the final part of the season, but in general, the two teammates will have a fierce battle in the next few weekends, with Riege a little behind.  

Read More: New leader in the Ski Classics Youth competition

Youth Bib Favorites Men – Ski Classics Season XV

Thomas Ødegaarden

• Nationality: Norway
• Date of Birth: 14.12.1998
• Pro Team: Team Eksjöhus
• Youth Competition: 1194 points
• Likelihood to win: 4 out of 5

Axel Jutterström

• Nationality: Sweden
• Date of Birth: 14.11.1998
• Pro Team: Team Eksjöhus
• Youth Competition: 1132 points
• Likelihood to win: 4 out of 5

Amund Riege

• Nationality: Norway 
• Date of Birth: 21.10.2000
• Pro Team: Team Ramudden
• Youth Competition: 887 points
• Likelihood to win: 2 out of 5

Top 10 Youth Men Competition ahead of Reistadløpet

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, 37km 
• 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 17, 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