It has been four years since Petter Northug ended his elite career. Since then, he has run a few races and calls himself an exerciser. But now the 36-year-old Norwegian is betting elite again.
But now it is the Ski Classics long-distance cup that applies.
— This year I hope to be able to participate and do well. I’m training to take part in some Ski Classics competitions this winter, says Northug to VG.
— Then I want to be in the lead. There are some races that don’t suit me very well because of the track profile, but there are also some that suit me very well.
Craving for the Vasaloppet
Northug does not reveal which races he intends to run, but he has previously been interested in the Vasaloppet. Already in 2020, Northug was supposed to drive between Sälen and Mora, but then he dropped out due to lack of time.
Petter Northug has already started to feel the hot air in several long roller skiing competitions this summer. Among other things, he was twelfth in Telemark in June and was also far ahead in a competition in Sandnes the other day with large parts of the Norwegian elite in place.
To Sweden
The Norwegian continues his investment with two roller skiing races in Sweden in the near future. First in Trollhättan in August and then the Klarälvsloppet in Värmland in September.
— I know myself so well, so I know what I have to train and do to reach the level I’m working towards now. Then I have to train a bit based on my age, my strengths and weaknesses and then I think I’ll keep up well, says Northug to VG.
Petter Northug dominated the skiing world during his career, winning two Olympic and 13 World Championship golds before retiring in 2018. Since then, the headlines have mostly been about his personal problems.
Northug has been open about his addiction problems and was sentenced in 2020 to seven months in prison for speeding and drug possession.
Norwegian long-distance star Andreas Nygaard, who won the Vasaloppet this year, believes that Northug can succeed with his venture.
“He does everything he can until the Vasaloppet so I actually think it’s a competition he can win,” Nygaard told VG.