Maja Dahlqvist is back in the national ski team, but still had her own set up this autumn.
When the rest of the team was at a high-altitude camp in Livigno, she accompanied American boyfriend Kevin Bolger to the USA at a high-altitude camp in Park City. Then she met Norwegian superstar Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.
He is in a conflict with the Norwegian Skiing Association, which, among other things, is about the right to market himself. There is a risk that Klæbo will not go to the World Cup this winter.
Last year, Dahlqvist, together with Frida Karlsson, was in a similar situation in the contacts with the Swedish Skiing Association. A conflict that is now resolved.
Dahlqvist says that the relations with their respective associations became a natural topic of conversation with Klæbo when they hung out in the US:
— It’s the same situation I had last year. I told him what I thought then and how much better things have become for us. One can only hope it will be the same for him.
If Johannes Høsflot Klæbo does not reach an agreement with the Norwegian federation, there is a risk that he will not compete in the World Cup this winter. Archive image.
Dahlqvist has just returned home to Falun and she says that Klæbo also became an inspiring training partner.
— He has a lot to say and it was fun to hear what he thinks and does. But then we are different people and I don’t buy everything outright just because he is the best, says Dahlqvist.
However, they agreed that Park City, located at an altitude of 2,000 meters in the state of Utah, is perfect for high-altitude camping:
— There you can ride four hours of flat skiing and maintain a reasonable speed of movement even though you are at a high altitude. In contrast to Europe, where there is a lot of ups and downs.
TT: How did it feel not to train with the rest of the national team?
— This turned out to be a good solution with the high-altitude training. But of course I missed the others in the team and the conversation. To be able to give and take during the passes, she replies.
Challenge in distance
Dahlqvist now aims to take the third straight overall victory in the sprint cup. She also has the drive to challenge for victory in the overall World Cup. The December competitions in Gällivare and Östersund therefore become extra important.
“Then I can see early on whether it’s worth going for a total world cup and where I am in the distance,” she says.
— In distance, this year I feel stronger in the upper body and can connect it better technically all the way. My priority one is still the sprint. I don’t want to bet on distance if it takes away my sprinting abilities. The dream is to be a perfect hybrid.
Racing in North America
This means that Maja Dahlqvist is ready to also go to the World Cup competitions in Canada and the USA. Even though it may mean an extra risk of catching a cold before the final Nordic part of the World Cup:
— I went home from the USA last weekend and managed to avoid getting sick. It’s not something I’m worried about. There is not much more disease there.