Astrid Öyre Slind didn’t think he could win the event until the Davos World Cup weekend in mid-December Therese Johaugin competing at the same time. The previous weekend in Lillehammer, Johaug had overwhelmingly won the ten free and 20 kilometer combined races.
In these races, the difference to Slind was 43 seconds and 50 seconds. The competitions in question hardly increased Slind’s credit in his own winning chances. After Johaug’s return last spring, he wondered if there was any point in competing when his peer, born in 1988, is in a class of his own.
The week after Lillehammer in Davos really shook. Slind, previously known as a tough long-distance skier outside the World Cup, beat Johaug himself in the 20 km traditional intermediate start race and took the first World Cup victory of his career.
Johaug, who was a kind of moron for Slind, only skied third when Kerttu Niskanen wedged between the Norwegians.
At the current Tour de Ski, beating Johaug has become a routine for Slind. Slind has been better in all competitions. In Toblach’s last two normal distance races, he celebrated first place before Johaug.
Sports expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen has not forgotten Slind’s pessimistic talk about his chances against Johaug.
– Now he is the one who is on the first podium and Johaug is only on the second or third podium. It’s a lot about self-confidence, Saarinen states.
Great story
Slindi’s path to becoming the best long-distance skier in the world at the moment is interesting and special. Slind only became aware of the skiing public following the World Cup and prestigious competitions two years ago during the World Championships in Planica.
It wasn’t until his first World Championships that he advanced in the 15 km combined race right away to the medals in his opening race in the 15 km combined race. As the best Norwegian, he was the third Swedish favorite Ebba Andersson mixed Frida Karlsson after.
At that time, Slindi had been a skier for a respectable 35 years.
The second prestigious race start of his career turned into gold when he celebrated the 4 x 5 km world championship with the women of Norway.
Öyre Slind made his World Cup debut at the age of 20 in the 2008 Holmenkollenn 30 km race. As a young skier, he tried to compete in the World Cup for several years, but with modest success.
At the same time, the internal competition among Norwegian women was extremely fierce by Marit BjörgenJohaugin, By Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, Kristin Störmer Steiran, by Heidi Weng and Ingvild Flugstad Östberg in terms of.
Slind decided to go on long ski trips to the Ski Classic, where he reaped great success. He managed to be away from the World Cup for more than eight years, until he returned to the mc races in Lillehammer in December 2022.
At the time, the level of Norwegian women was nothing amazing, because Johaug quit the previous spring, Östberg was sick and Weng was far from her peak form. At that time, the 34-year-old Slind had the chance to tour the World Cup.
Advances were bullish. Before the world championships in Planica, Slind reached third place in the world cup once, so the potential was there.
Two years later, the almost 37-year-old Slind has three victories, eight podium places and a personal WC bronze.
The background of Slindi’s wonderful development story is the significantly improved muscle endurance during the Ski Classic years.
– There (Ski Classic) we had to do a lot of flat push training, which has pushed muscle endurance forward. It won’t do well in hard sprint skiing, but the speed is enough for longer distances. His story is extraordinary, and I have wondered about it, says Saarinen.
“Kasikasi” celebration
At the women’s Tour de Ski, there has been talk of tough “pig guns”. Both Johaug, Slind and Kerttu Niskanen were born in 1988. They all turn 37 this year.
The Kasikas trio has already formed the top three this season three times. Also, belonging to the same age group From Rosie Brennan has seen some strong performances in recent years, although this season has been tighter.
Last season, the then 35-year-old American was third in the free sprint.
Of course, Marit Björgen has won the World Cup at the age of 37, so the situation is not unprecedented.
At the moment, the trend in the long distances of the World Cup is more for older female skiers to ride. Among the best skiers in the USA for years Jessie Diggins turns 34 this year.
Mother is considered
In Saarinen’s opinion, the environment is now such that female skiers dare to make longer careers. The financial side is fine.
The personal world champion of the 2009 World Ski Championships reminds that the men’s side has also seen very experienced skiers at the top, such as in recent history from the Czech Lukas Bauer.
– These older skiers are exceptionally talented. Therese Johaug was only 18 years old when she skied to the ball at the 2007 World Ski Championships in Sapporo, Saarinen points out.
Björgen and Johaug are examples of skiers who have returned to the international skiing elite after having a child. Saarinen had his first child in 2016, while his active career was still underway. The following year, at the World Ski Championships in Lahti, Saarinen was about to win the last prestigious medal of his career with the relay women.
He and the US Kick Randall cooperated with the International Ski Federation to provide rooms for athletes’ children to use at the games. At this Tour de Ski, Johaug’s spouse has been on the spot with the couple’s first-born child, who is just over a year old.
– On the Eastern European side, it has been the case that female athletes have had children, but they have been at home. In the Nordic countries, however, the culture is such that the family is more present. It is possible to start a family and continue a career, and FIS wanted to support this.
A strong champion favorite in his home competitions
Slind shines now, but without his trainer by Chris Jespersen what was supposed to be a great season could have turned out quite differently. The Norwegian woman had a persistent cough since the end of summer.
Jespersen advised Slind to see a doctor, who diagnosed whooping cough. If a whooping cough is not treated quickly, it may last for many months.
– My career could have ended. I was lucky, Slind quoth In an interview with Dagbladet.
Before the skiing season, it was speculated that Johaug would dominate the World Championships in Trondheim. Slind has shown recently that he is at least a genuine championship candidate in his home matches.
– He improves competition after competition. He is one of the champion candidates in all distance races. When he skis to the end of the Tour, it will be good for him. He can handle it, Saarinen trusts Slindi.