Roxane Lacroix ended her Visma Ski Classics Pro Tour career last spring. Now, she enjoys life as a carpenter, working with her dad.

Lacroix made a solid end to Visma Ski Classics Season XI. In the final event, 100km Årefjälloppet, she crossed the finish line in fifth place and ended up in seventh place in the overall Champion competition. The three last races in her long-distance career were her best placements – fifth, sixth, and fifth.

Roxane was passionate about long-distance skiing. Tenacious, devoted, and with strong mental strength. Now retired from the Pro ranking, Lacroix had a chat with ProXCskiing and talked about her new life as a carpenter.

Roxane, what is your new daily routine? Did you go back to school?

“Yes, I’m going back to school, but I’m also doing an internship at my dad’s company. The ratio is two weeks at school for six weeks in the company.”

You work with your dad. Do you think it’s easier or more complicated to work with him than with someone you didn’t know before?

“It’s hard to answer because it’s still early days, but it’s a good thing for the moment. We both know each other well, so I would say it’s easier for some things and maybe more complicated for others.”

“I have personal projects that I would like to do during my student years, and my dad also wants to do them with me and for me. So, this is also why I wanted to do my internship with him, because my dad is the best (laughs) and because I knew that it wouldn’t be as easy in another company. It’s freer; we can talk about my projects and choose together what we want to do. But for the moment, it’s still complicated because I started almost from scratch: I’m not independent at all.”

“For example, when I finish doing something, I cannot say, ‘now I have to do that other project.’ That is the most challenging part, mainly because I was very independent in cross-country skiing, even if there were some discussions with the coach. I did my planning on my own. I was free to do as I wanted, and even if there was no one to tell me what to do, I knew which way to go, and I could move forward.”

“And I feel like that’s one of the hardest things for me now, to be as independent as I want to be. I am progressing, and I know that I can’t learn the job in 6 months. Besides, my dad works alone, so he does all the projects from start: measuring, drawing, discussion with the customer, wood selection. So, there’s a lot to learn, and for now, I haven’t seen everything yet. For instance, I have never taken measurements. And even if it seems easy, I think it’s always more complicated than it looks. And if you get it wrong, the whole project can be flawed.”

“But when I can do things on my own, I’m pleased, even if it takes longer. But I need to make something to feel more confident and progress. And my dad often tells me that if you think you know everything about carpentry, you are wrong because there are always things to learn, and you have to stay humble.”

How long does your formation take? 

“It lasts two years.”

Is your plan to start your own company? 

“Yes, although it’s hard to say this now. I have many ideas, many things that inspire me. I want to do furniture; I’ve already made my table and chairs. I also made a Finnish bath with a friend, and I’ve had a lot of fun with that kind of project. But what I love about this job is that every day is different, there is no routine, so I don’t want to limit myself to doing just one thing.”

“Since I’ve been working with my dad, I’ve already done two staircases, but there were completely different. Even if it’s two stairs at the beginning, the process and the result are entirely different. Also, we work with wood, so the approach and technique are different depending on the wood’s choice.”

And now, with all this going on, what place does cross-country skiing occupy in your life? 

“I ski to work once a week! I enjoy it because it’s not much longer than driving and it’s a great way to start and end the day. The last time I did it, I came home at the same time as the sunset. It was beautiful. And of course, I follow Visma Ski Classics and the latest news.”

And finally, will you be racing this winter?

“I’d like to, but I can’t train as much as I’d like, so I’ll see. And I also want to enjoy skiing differently, without necessarily putting on a bib,” concludes Roxane.

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