XC-skiing and Bianchi 2012

During the last couple of days I have been out twice on my 29-30 year old skiis. Great training and also super fun. As a child I loved skiing and skied a lot, but from age 15 and until I was almost 28 I didn't go skiing even once. But when I ended my elite career in cycling I targeted Vasaloppet wich is Swedens biggest crosscountry skiing event with 15800 people starting at the same time and doing a 90 kilometer long race between Sälen and Mora. My goal was to finish the race in less than six hours (the winner crosses the finish line in about four hours) and I did make it in the time 5:45:57. Really happy with that! The following year my aim was to make it in less than five hours but work and other stuff made it hard to prepare so I didn't race at all. Now I have done two sessions this winter and my second one was my third fastest ever, so now I'm thinking of doing the Vasa ski race again this year, but it's only 23 days away! If I do the race then six hours will be my target again but I also have to do a qualifying race so I don't have to start dead last.

When I did Vasaloppet in 2010 I had qualifyed to the 4:th starting group (out of ten) and my result in Vasaloppet qualifyed me for the 3:rd start group if I was going to race in 2011. Because I didn't race at all last year I need at least one race before the race this year for seeding purposes.

Me and my skiis. I also have a pair of new (in 2010 anyway,  and only used about 10 times) Fischer skiis wich are top of the line, world cup quality. But I only use my racing skiis when racing or preparing for race.

I will continue riding Bianchi bikes in 2012, focusing more on road and cyclocross and a bit less on MTB than I did in 2011. This year will however be my first on 29" and after trying a 29:er in the forest in late 2011 I am really stoked about that.

Cross country skiing

A good alternative for cycling during the winter is cross country skiing. I did no training except riding my bikes for almost ten years until last year when i stoped trying to be elite. I then tried some running (no fun at all, but very nice to get that tired that easily) and during the winter i skied a lot. I had an average of five training hours each week during the winter, almost exclusively on my cross country skis. My big target was the Vasaloppet wich is the biggest ski race in the world. Almost 16000 people start at the same time and race for 90 k. My goal was to make it under six hours (victory time is around four hours) and I made it in 1801:st spot with a time of 5.45.58. When crossing that finnish line I tought it would be a great challenge to try and make in less then five hours in 2011. Last year I started my ski training around christmas after not using skis for 12 years. Now I have a winter of skiing behind me and I have already started the ski season. This year I'm not in as good shape as I was last year, but now I have the routine!

Look how happy I was this tuesday when I was going to do my first ski session this winter. It was late (9.45 p.m.) and I started working 6 a.m. the following morning so I was only out for 15 minutes. Little training is better then no training! My skis on the picture are from 1982 but works fine for training. I have an other pair of skis as well. Top of the line, of course.

A picture of the crime scene. This is The National Ski Stadium. Or as we call it in Swedish: Riksskidstadion. The world championships will be held here in 2015 and we (Falun) host a world cup every year. So I really have great skiing really close to my home.

Today I had company, it was my friend Christian who is also aiming for Vasaloppet this winter. It was great to have someone to ski with and I pushed my self a lot harder today. Average hart rate of 161 during our 48 minute session and a maximum hart rate of 183.

It was -9 ºC degrees (15.8 ºF) outside this evening and quite windy. Go fast and you will keep warm.