A few days ago, you read the first part of an article about the merger of two Czech Pro Teams, creating the new eD system Vltava Fund Team. Now, we talk with the Pro Team Director Marek Pazderský, the founder of the Silvini Madshus team based in the Jizera Mountains.

Since your debut in Ski Classics (2012/2013 season), you’ve been presented as an amateur team, yet some years you took under your wing two of the biggest Czech long-distance skiing names – Kateřina Smutná and Stanislav Řezáč. Looking back, how do you see the development of your team?

“We founded the team in 2008. Gradually, we attracted more and more amateurs, eventually joining Ski Classics, and in 2014 Standa and Katka joined us. They were our first and, so far, only professionals. The rest of our athletes either study or work while competing. Development over the past 16 years has been visible and necessary. Today, one might do some things differently, but it’s hard to judge now what would have been better or not,” says Pazderský to Bezky.net.

“I simply started racing long-distance. I did quite well, and it seemed silly to do it alone. Friends gradually joined, and I eventually founded a race team that I’ve been fully committed to ever since. I remember sitting with a beer after our first team season, realizing that I was the best among them, thinking, “Well done, Marek.” Fortunately, the following year was different, and I eventually moved into a managerial role. That’s when we brought in Standa and persuaded Katka that she would excel in this sport. Later, it turned out that an unresolved contract with Katka wasn’t ideal, and that deeper collaboration with Standa wasn’t possible. Eventually, after four years, the team decided to prioritize younger athletes.”

“Then came a period that I personally enjoyed a lot. Jiří Pliska became the team leader, driving us all forward, and others joined in, making it financially sustainable as well. Last year, unfortunately, something tragic happened (editor’s note: a fatal mountain accident involving Jiří Pliska). Fortunately, the strength of our skiing family emerged, and thanks to another great person – German skier Thomas Bing, who joined the team – we managed to recover and continue.

Read More – 2 in 1: The merger of two Czech Pro Teams – Part 1

What was your best team placement, and in which season?

“In the 2014/2015 season, we finished 5th overall and even had a chance to reach 3rd place before the final race, but Standa Řezáč didn’t make it to the start, and I didn’t perform well either. Our second-best placement is 8th in the 2015/2016 and 2023/2024 seasons. It’s true that for years, team ranking wasn’t a priority for us; we focused on achieving the best result in each race. We aimed to maintain a position that would secure our license for the following year and reduce entry fees. This influenced our team structure, and we didn’t recruit international athletes.”

In recent seasons, you’ve collaborated with the Vltava Fund Ski team for hydration/refreshments, eventually merging sponsors to form one team. I’m not aware of any teams, at least those fighting for the top ten in Ski Classics, who’ve done something similar. What’s your take on that?

“We helped each other during races in the far north. I’ve always liked that Czechs kind of stuck together. But of course, it’s about people. Only time will tell if this was a good idea or not. I think the merger succeeded mainly because it’s not our main job, but a hobby. We want to continue, and we share a common interest and goal. If we all keep giving it our best, results may come. Our ambition is to be the top non-Scandinavian team in the overall top ten, and in the men’s category, we aim to frequently reach the top ten, and in the women’s, the top five. But all four main factors need to align: ski selection and servicing, current conditions, athletes’ form, and luck.”

Why did you decide to merge, and what are your expectations?

“Midway through last season, I sensed that continuing as we were was unsustainable. Both teams were in similar situations: excellent athletes, excellent service, but finances on the edge. One sick or injured athlete, or issues with service, and everything could collapse like a house of cards.”

“Moreover, who will be competing in the Czech Republic in five years? I’ve been trying to support young talent for a long time, but honestly, I haven’t seen many promising talents yet. With the merger, there will be relatively more good athletes together; they can help each other in training, and if someone drops out, another can replace them. Not all athletes need to compete in everything; they can pace themselves or race in other events, where they can earn some wins without putting a heavy financial strain on the team.”

“The service teams will combine. More heads, more experience, and more manpower should hopefully lead to faster skis and reduce the strain on the service team, which sometimes works beyond human capacity.”

Read More: Czech Pro Teams join forces

Lastly, the merger brings together two strong financial partners, providing greater security and stability.

You’re yet to enter the first season together, but do you have any idea how you’ll operate as a single entity?

“I’m confident we’ll operate similarly to before. Athletes and service members will mix for races. Naturally, many details will still need to be refined to create a solid plan that will, hopefully, only require minor adjustments.”

Merging two teams also creates pressure on registered members, as only ten spots are allocated for each team in the Ski Classics competition. Who do you expect to be the main driving forces?

“At first glance, selecting athletes may seem complex. But honestly, both teams were in a similar – let’s say, poor – position, with two guys and two girls and the rest borderline competitive. The merger simply boosts quality and competitiveness. The core of the team is, of course, Czech, but we currently don’t have such high-quality local athletes. In both the men’s and women’s categories, we’ll have one international star – German Thomas Bing and Swede Hedda Bångman. They’ll be joined by Fabián Štoček, Jan Šrail, and Vašek Sedláček. For the women, Karolína Grohová, young French athlete Hanna Finne, and Anna Marie Hejná were nominated.”

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