One is a sports lover who won the Nordic Open in Brazilian jujitsu and developed his own form of exercise – ”hard rock exercise”. The second one started skiing in 2010 and has since then concurred four Swedish classics as well as Ultra Vasan in record time. The third is a tennis player and a Nordenskiöldsloppet descendant, who climbed both Mount Kebnekaise and Mont Blanc. And the fourth is a multisport spirited Englishman with a passion for endurance training, who has won gold at the British University Championship in rowing.
What do they have in common? Meet the ski enthusiasts Mattias, Yvonne, Richard and Justin who are now getting ready for Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet.
The reason these four enthusiasts decided to participate in Nordenskiöldsloppet differs. Yvonne Kemi, who first started cross-country skiing in 2010, had no doubts when the chance finally came;
– I love skiing and new challenges. When I first saw the race, me and my husband directly decided we wanted to compete, says Yvonne.
Mattias Lindmark grew up in Gällivare and spent a huge part of the school’s gymnastics lessons out in the length of the track. His brother, who lives in Jokkmokk, has long spoken of the mythical race;
– When I signed up I thought the race would take place 2017, meaning that I would have two years’ preparation time. Now the training became a little more stressful than I had originally thought, Mattias laughs.
Richard Sylwander is the descendant of Nordenskiöld on his mother’s side. 1,5 years ago, he got the idea of recreating the 132 year old race that his ancestor skied;
– I contacted Jokkmokk Ski Association about the idea and then got told that Wolfgang Mehl also had seen the potential of this race, and examined the possibility of re-creating it. Because of too much work, I could not attend the re-creation, says Richard, who will now instead be following his ancestors ski tracks as a contestant.
Londoner Justin Hughes has for years been watching cross-country skiing on Eurosport. He was fascinated by the sport and promised his Swedish friend that he one day would take part in Vasaloppet. In January, he put on his ski boots for the first time and a month later he was standing on the starting line in Sälen;
– The fact that I signed up for Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet was a coincidence. A skiing friend sent over a link, and without really knowing what I was getting into I signed up. But I love challenges and am determined to complete what I started, says Justin.
As one can see, all four enthusiasts have both different ski experiences as well as diverse athlete backgrounds. What they all share is the passion to keep going and to exercise. They have all competed in at least one Vasaloppet, and have therefore received a small taste of endurance racing on skis.
Yvonne has succeeded to participate in as many as four “Swedish classics” since she started skiing in 2010. She also ran the 90-kilometer Ultra Vasan, resulting in a top three time, 10.4 hours. Prior to Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet, Yvonne has made sure to succeed with as many 100 kilometre workouts as possible. In total, she has put about 1200 kilometers behind her in the ski track this winter;
– I like to exhaust myself and love to wear on hour after hour, so I think this race will suit me just fine. I have tested my mental strengths on other types of long workouts such as Fjällräven Classic from Nikkaluokta to Abisko during 110 km with 16 kg baggage for 40 hours, says Yvonne.
Her personal goal for the race is threefold; to reach the finish line, finish under 24 hours and the dream goal of reaching the medal time. She is well aware of the mental challenge she is up for and knows what is at stake;
– You can do much more than you think, it is all in your head. Do not raise too high expectations regarding your finish time, enjoy the challenge and go as long as you possibly can. Take one step at a time, just think of the next control. Do not give up!
Mattias will not call himself a multisport man, even if he had time to test a wide range of sports, from badminton and surfing to Brazilian jujitsu. Once a week he leads a pass in the self-invented form of exercise called ”hard rock excercise”, where around 30 people in hard rock shirts and fleece sweatpants meet and carry around on each other to the sound of classic hard rock;
– It is for people who feel that they do not fit into the typical workout template, therefore all functional clothing is strictly prohibited, says Mattias.
He started cross country skiing when his physical therapist told him about the sport, in order for Mattias to rehab a herniated disc in his neck. In 2012 he completed Vasaloppet, something he does not want to do again;
– There were just too many people in the ski tracks. There will probably be more peace and quiet during Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet, ha ha! laughs Mattias.
His personal goal with the race is primarily to get to the finish line, with the target to make it through at least half of the race. He thinks it will be exciting to see what will happen in the head and is prepared for a tough mental fight. The entire body has to work and sync with the brain. He has increased the amount of training during the year and also varied it due to the lack of snow in Stockholm. Overall, he has managed to put around 500-600 kilometers behind him.
Mattias advice for those considering signing up to the race is to listen to the body;
– I you feel good and healty, then just go for it. If you are used to physical challenges, then this shouldn’t be a problem?
”I you feel good and healty, then just go for it. If you are used to physical challenges, then this shouldn’t be a problem?”
For Richard, tennis was a big part of his life until the age of 18. From here, running combined with rock climbing became his most common exercise forms, with the ascent of Mount Kebnekaise and Mont Blanc as absolute ”peaks”. He participated in his first Vasaloppet this year, and has 40 kilometers in the ski tracks, in addition to the time he spent on the ski machine at the gym;
– My strength is mental rather than physical. I have a strong will and usually finish challenges without any problems. An injury or if I feel real pain in the body, that could however probably break me down. It might also be difficult if one has to ski alone during the night, that would not be as motivating as finding someone to company with – hopefully that will be the case. My goal is to make it under 25 hours, says Richard.
He believes that the most important factors in the race are persistence and extreme will. To have what it takes to make it through the last, painful 80 kilometers, but also to feel comfortable on the skis and have good technique.
Justin on the other hand, has a short but intense ski career behind him. During the one year he has been skiing, he has participated in two Vasaloppet, a ski marathon and also Birkebeinerrennet. Through the years, he has tried many different sports, and he has been successful in both tennis and rowing. Endurance sports are mixed with racquet- and ball sports.
The fact that London and England offers very few ski facilities, the main training has consisted of running, cycling and strength training, combined with various endurance races on foreign soil;
– Once I set myself a goal, I have a strong determination to achieve it. I have visualized how hard and painful the race will be and how I will have to dig deep to find the necessary strength. The charm is not to have registered for the race, it is to complete it, says Justin.
Although he dreams of being able to be one of those who fight for the medals, he has a more realistic goal; to finish the race, preferably as close to the record of 1884 as possible. To all who have not yet signed up, Justin sends a greeting;
– Do not miss the opportunity to compete side by side with Olympic winners, World Champions and Vasaloppet winners in an epic record race. And to quote my own mantra: ”Just get in the pain the box and close the lid”!
””Do not miss the opportunity to compete side by side with Olympic winners, World Champions and Vasaloppet winners in an epic record race. And to quote my own mantra: ”Just get in the pain the box and close the lid”!””
