Next week, Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, will debut in the world’s longest ski race, the Nordenskiöldsloppet: “I am aiming for victory, says last year’s Vasaloppet winner.

On Saturday, March 23, the seventh edition of the Nordenskiöldsloppet will be held in Sweden. One of the skiers at the starting line early Saturday morning is last year’s superstar Emil Persson:

“This will be the first time I participate in the Nordenskiöldsloppet. I’ve been eager to participate for several years, but it has always clashed with the Ski Classics. The situation is perfect; there’s a competition-free weekend after this race before the next stage in the Ski Classics. Also, my chance of winning the Yellow bib is virtually gone,” says Persson, who will compete against teammate Oskar Kardin and Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge. Nygaard has proven to be particularly tough to beat in the Nordenskiöldsloppet.

The Norwegian Pro Team athlete has won the race three times before. But Persson is determined:

“My goal is to win.”

Have you ever skied 220 kilometers before? 

“No, the longest I have skied was 170 kilometers. However, I have done a few 220-kilometer sessions on roller skis. It will be essential to keep energy from the start. And some (energy) bars will probably be involved to keep my stomach in check throughout the race. If you only consume gels and sports drinks throughout, I think there’s a high risk of “stomach issues,” says Persson to Langd.se.

But in Ski Classics, Persson is still waiting for his first victory of the season. Four races remain this season (Nordenskiöldsloppet is not part of the Ski Classics):

“The goal for the end of the season is to secure at least one victory. It would mean everything to have that. I believe I have a really good chance at Birkebeinerrennet this weekend. I was third there two years ago, and my form felt good at Vasaloppet,” says Persson, who finished fifth in the legendary race. However, this was after a race where he had to take a passive role in the pack for much of the time.

This was because his teammates Torleif Syrstad and Alvar Myhlback were part of the breakaway that went away right from the start:

“It was an unusual day and awesome with Torleif’s victory and Alvar’s third place. We probably realized after Smågan that the breakaway was going to last. It wasn’t until after Oxberg that some real action happened. There were a lot of attacks. With a few kilometers to go, I broke away from our group (with teammates Kardin and Runar Skaug Mathiesen and Andreas Nygaard from Team Ragde Charge). We were three against one there, so it could have been Oskar or Runar who got away. But I felt strong, and the finish was really good,” says Persson.