The Swedish women’s national team coach, Stefan Thomson, discusses the selection process for Ruka, who gets prioritized, and how he approaches team selections.

Following the Swedish cross-country skiing season premiere at Bruksvallarna, World Cup competitions await in Ruka the weekend after. Many athletes aim to secure a spot on the Swedish national team as early as possible to ensure their place at the World Championships, both on the men’s and women’s sides.

In addition to the A-team, there is the entire Team Bauhaus, where competition is fierce. Moreover, several potential candidates operate outside the Swedish national team framework, either with private teams or within one of the long-distance teams.

Coach Stefan Thomson notes that the selection process is challenging and the competition especially tough.

“It’s really tough. It’s a nice problem to have, but it’s still hard when we have such a strong team,” says Thomson to ProXCskiing.com’s sister site Langd.se.

The competition is particularly stiff in sprints, given the incredibly strong women in contention. Besides the A-team and Team Bauhaus, Moa Lundgren is also a contender for a strong showing in Bruksvallarna.

Also Read – Bruksvallarna Premire: Complete program & Watch on SC Play!

No One Is Safe

Former sprint star Peter Larsson, known as the “King of Düsseldorf” after six consecutive wins in sprint races there, serves as a historical benchmark. Meanwhile, Emma Ribom’s two consecutive sprint victories in Ruka could work in her favor during the selection process.

“Often, A-team athletes have a slight advantage before the opening weekend. But that doesn’t mean their spots are guaranteed,” explains Thomson.

The Swedish sprint team is exceptionally strong—perhaps one of the strongest ever. In addition to sprint specialists like Emma Ribom, Linn Svahn, Maja Dahlqvist, Jonna Sundling, and Johanna Hagström from the national team, Frida Karlsson has also achieved high finishes in sprint events.

For example, Karlsson finished second at the World Cup sprint in Oberhof in 2024. Thomson acknowledges the difficulties in making team selections but also highlights this strength as key to the team’s success.

“I think it’s also a strength. We are constantly pushing the development process forward,” Thomson says, adding:

“As a coach, you can’t shy away from it. But you always need to have clear purposes and arguments when making selections.”

Also Read
Sundling sprint winner in Bruksvallarna
Anger sprint winner in Bruksvallarna

Media Discussions

In addition to the challenges of team selections, which are never easy with such a strong squad, national team coaches must also deal with the media and the public attention that arises during the selection process. Thomson has faced this many times.

“It’s part of the job, but the media rarely has the whole picture. However, I spend an enormous amount of time on the selections. Many factors come into play. It can be everything from the type of course to the trends in an athlete’s recent performances. A lot goes into a selection.”

“But I think I’ve learned to handle it over the years. And you can’t let the media influence you,” the women’s coach concludes with a smile.

Selection Criteria from the Federation

The Swedish Ski Federation’s website outlines the selection criteria for both the World Championships and Ruka. Regarding the Ruka selection, it states:

“Selections for Ruka are based on the core criteria and results from the opening competitions in Bruksvallarna. Also, note that A-team athletes may be prioritized.”

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.

Bruksvallarna Premiere – Live Streamed on SC Play!

Watch the complete weekend live streamed on SC Play, with exclusive rights in all countries except Sweden. You can follow the events live on SC Play every race day from 8:40 CET on Friday, and 10:30 CET on Saturday and Sunday, with English commentaries from Max Östlund and Julia Angelsiöö (Ski Team Göhlins Pro Team athlete) on Friday; Teemu Virtanen and Julia Angelsiöö on Saturday; and Teemu Virtanen and Max Östlund on Sunday!

SC Play is included in Proxcskiing.com, Langd.se, Langrenn.com, Maastohiihto.com, and Bezky.net memberships.

BRUKSVALLARNA PREMIERE – WATCH HERE ON SC PLAY!