After a spring and early summer that has been anything but optimal, Kari Øyre Slind must take immediate action to have any World Championships chance. 

“I think this must be the worst training summer ever. But it’s not because I have not bothered to do the job and put down the training I had hoped to get. I have not had the profits to do everything, and I have a threat that profits are important to get the quality I want in the training sessions,” says Øyre Slind to Langrenn.com.  

Lack of continuity 

Øyre Slind believes that systematic and steady efforts are the key to progression and results. 

It was precisely systematic, even, and targeted training that enabled her to recover so quickly and strongly after the injuries from a climbing accident that could have taken her life last summer. 

But in recent months, there has been little of this. First, a long period of illness ruined the training program for most of the winter and into the spring. 

Then there were changes in connection with the transition process when Team Telemark joined Team Aker Dæhlie in May-June, with the representation tasks and associated activities that came with it. 

Shortly afterward, the first training camp followed with the new team in Bø in Telemark in connection with the opening weekend for the Rollerskiing World Cup during TelemarksVeka. 

In addition, there have been some weddings and anniversaries in the circle of friends, as well as renovations to the home in Lillehammer. 

Now there is an end to “non-sporting nonsense,” reports Øyre Slind. The 30-year-old, who has won a medal in the U23 World Championships and competed in 66 World Cup races, knows what it takes to have a chance on the team for the World Championships. 

“Now, my focus is only on getting started properly. I have never trained so badly in the period of May-June-July before,” she says. 

Øyre Slind still has a good faith that she can get in shape for the start of the season in November and secure a place in the Norwegian squad for the World Championships Planica in February.

“After all, it is better to be bad in the summer and good in the autumn,” she says. 

What steps are you taking now?  

“I have gone out loud and said, ‘I am going to the World Championships,’ and that is what I stand for. I want to attend the World Championships, and I take the consequence.”

What events do you plan to attend in the summer and autumn?  

“None. Hopefully, I will not go to a single competition before the start of the season,” says Øyre Slind. 

She explains that competition and travel can cost more than benefits. 

“It is good training to go to competitions, but at the same time, it is the case that competition is competition. Even if it is only training at this time of year, you put a little extra into it and top it a little anyway, and then it goes beyond how much and hard you can train towards them. And that’s not what I need now,” says Øyre Slind. 

For the same reason, Øyre Slind will also not join the altitude training plan that most of the all-around skiers in Team Aker Dæhlie have set up this year. 

“For me, it’s about continuity. Besides, we have only set up an altitude training camp with the team, but I think you either have to do it systematically and regularly or just don’t go.” 

“What I need now is as much base training as possible and as little else as possible. I just want to be as calm as possible and get the best possible training,” concludes Kari Øyre Slind.