Stina Nilsson constantly chooses to go her own way. Last spring, the highly accomplished 31-year-old decided to step into long-distance races and Ski Classics. In an exclusive interview, Nilsson talks about her move to long-distance racing and her expectations for her first season in Ski Classics.

On April 23, the news came. Stina Nilsson will continue her career as a long-distance skier. She is doing it with the star-studded Norwegian Pro Team, Team Ragde Charge, and Ski Classics is the new goal for the 31-year-old raised in Malung, Sweden.

Also Read: Stina Nilsson joins the Ski Classics circuit

Switching athletic careers is something she has done a few times before. Four years ago, she ended her highly successful cross-country skiing career, during which she filled her trophy cabinet with double golds from both the World Championships and the Olympics.

She continued skiing, but with a rifle on her back, and during her biathlon seasons, she made it to the World Cup podium both in relays and individually. She also played a key role in the team that won European Championship bronze in the relay.

Read More – Stina Nilsson: The journey to Ski Classics

A more extended interview with Stina Nilsson about long-distance training, expectations, and being a role model will be coming soon.

But from now on, it’s all about long-distance racing.

She competed in two long-distance races last winter, which brought her both victories and, most importantly, joy:

“Participating in the Skinnarloppet at home in Malung was purely by chance. It fit in perfectly at the time, and it turned out to be so much fun. And I realized then that I missed racing in classic style, which was the technique I chose to use then. Later in the season, I raced in the Idre-Särnaloppet, and I also got the same excited feelings for that race,” says Nilsson to Langd.se.

On April 1, she received a text message asking if she was interested in long-distance skiing and Ski Classics. The sender of the message was Jørgen Aukland from Team Ragde Charge.

“I replied and asked if it was an April Fool’s joke. But he wrote that you don’t joke about big things like long-distance racing, haha. The timing felt right, and I’m the kind of person who often follows my gut feeling,” says Nilsson.

Is the transition to long-distance racing easier than when you switched to biathlon?

“I’m taking this step because, in my world, I’ve always wanted to try all three. I genuinely feel like stepping into uncharted waters, but I don’t speculate about what is easy or difficult. It’s an exciting challenge to take on,” says Nilsson.

Stina Nilsson’s return to the world of cross-country skiing has led to speculation that she might be considered for the Swedish World Championship team in Trondheim.

Also Read: Stina Nilsson at the World Championships?

But Stina is clear:

“My focus and the only thing that motivates me right now is to do well in long-distance races and in Ski Classics. You won’t see me in any traditional races. I’m already looking forward to heading off to the first snow camp in Livigno at the beginning of December. This will be the final preparation before Ski Classics kicks off in mid-December (the first races in Ski Classics take place in Bad Gastein on December 14-15),” says Nilsson.

What is your goal for your debut season in Ski Classics?

“I’ve never had any stated performance goals, and I won’t have one now either. What I see ahead is a process of what I want to achieve when I ski and now, with a focus on long-distance races. I’m looking forward to being prepared enough to fight for it now. I’m humble; I’ve seen the girls on TV; I know they are super strong and that it’s going to be hard work. As things stand now, I have no idea how I’ll measure up,” says Stina Nilsson.

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