29-year-old Eirik Sverdrup Augdal hasn’t had the easiest journey to the top. From his Junior World Champion title in 2014 to the surprising gold in the Norwegian championships at the end of last season, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. Now, he’s a hot name in both Norway’s elite traditional races and in Ski Classics long-distance races.

Also Read: Sverdrup Augdal wins the 50km race at the Norwegian Championships

“The World Championships in Trondheim is a big goal. I’ll try to qualify for the World Cup in the opening races at Beitostølen and Gålå,” says the Norwegian athlete who lives near Lillehammer.

“Winning the 50km at the Norwegian Championships gave me the confidence that I can be really fast in traditional races too. I was surprised and didn’t really expect such a result. I hadn’t even planned on competing in the Norwegian Championships, but since I live only 10 minutes from the stadium, I decided a week before to give it a shot,” he says to ProXCskiing.com’s sister site Langd.se.

And Eirik Sverdrup Augdal beat everyone under tough conditions on a very demanding course.

“I had an exceptionally good day. I’ve also gained upper-body strength from double poling in Ski Classics. I really felt the difference in the last 10 kilometers.”

But despite also winning bronze in the 10 km classic, beating Klæbo and others, and impressing at Lillehammer, he heard nothing from the Norwegian national team management ahead of the World Championships season.

Junior World Champion and 4th at Holmenkollen

Now, Eirik Sverdrup Augdal is making a serious attempt to get to the World Championships. If he doesn’t make it, he’ll focus entirely on Ski Classics with his Swedish Pro Team, Team Eksjöhus. He knows he has the capacity.

Read More: Team Eksjöhus – Pro Team presentation Season XVI

“I won the Junior World Championships in Val di Fiemme in 2014, but after that, I didn’t improve over the following years. I injured my chest in a ski-touring accident and thought about quitting,” admits the 29-year-old, who was encouraged by his family to keep going.

In 2020, he had a chance in the 50km at Holmenkollen, where he achieved an impressive 4th place. Ahead of him were only Alexander Bolshunov, Simen Hegstad Krüger, and Emil Iversen. He was just 20 seconds short of victory and outsprinted Hans Christer Holund, Dario Cologna, Sjur Røthe, Jens Burman, and Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget.

“But just two weeks after the race at Holmenkollen, the accident happened where I fell and severely injured my chest. I landed badly and had terrible luck.”

This was yet another setback for the talent from Ringerike and Hønefoss.

Turning Point with Elon Innlandet

“The turning point came when I joined the (Norwegian) regional team Team Elon Innlandet, with athletes like Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget and Håvard Solåds Taugbøl. We trained well together for 1-2 years, and I felt I was getting faster and better.”

He also got Marthe Kristoffersen as a coach, who called Espen Trældal at Team Eksjöhus to see if Eirik could try long-distance racing with them.

“It was great, and Espen wanted me on the team.”

Not surprisingly, Trældal saw his potential. In 2023, Eirik Sverdrup Augdal finished second in Reistadløpet and sixth in Grönklitt Classic. But he was still a strong traditional skier, achieving, among other things, a 3rd place in the Scandinavian Cup in Madona, Latvia.

“It felt more enjoyable to compete in the well-known long-distance races in Europe than just racing the traditional events at home,” he says today.

Team Eksjöhus had found a real tough competitor for the most demanding races. Last winter, Eirik placed 3rd in both the final Ski Classics Pro Tour events in Northern Norway, in addition to a 4th place in Birken and 6th in Engadin La Diagonela in Switzerland.

A Tough Combination

Eirik Sverdrup Augdal isn’t the only one trying to qualify for the World Championships while also competing in Ski Classics. It’s a tough combination, and skiers like Magni Smedås and Astrid Øyre Slind are among those who want to try it.

“Double poling for Ski Classics requires a different kind of training than I’m used to. I can’t do it every day, so I mix it up with freestyle, cycling, and other activities. I think the 50km freestyle at the World Championships suits me well.”

A victory in one of the Ski Classics races is also high on his wish list, ideally Birkebeinerrennet, which is practically in his backyard in Lillehammer.

“But I need to improve my endurance for double poling and get better in sprints to win,” he admits openly.

40 Can Compete in the World Cup

The Norwegian champion estimates that there are about 40 Norwegian skiers with the capacity to compete for the six spots on the World Cup team. Perhaps it’s harder to make it there than to win a World Championships medal.

“I can’t chase a spot there my whole life. If I don’t make it now, I’ll focus fully on Ski Classics. I enjoy it and feel very comfortable with Team Eksjöhus.”

His first chance to impress the Norwegian national team leadership will be at Beitostølen, at the same time as Sweden’s season premiere in Bruksvallarna.

A year ago, Eirik Sverdrup Augdal finished 11th in the 10km freestyle and 15th in the 10km classic. That won’t be enough this year if he wants to reach the World Cup and, later, the World Championships.

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