As part of the preparations for the Norwegian start of the season at Beitostølen, Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, will race at the Sjusjøen Super Criterium on November 12.

“It’s nice to have a solid finish the weekend before the season opener at Beitostølen. It can help remove some nerves before that,” Astrid Øyre Slind tells Langrenn.com.

Saying Yes If The Opportunity Comes

With Therese Johaug’s absence during this year’s season opener, great excitement awaits as to which athletes will make their mark. The women’s national team is young, and there are several who want to fight for the starting places in the World Cup before Christmas.

Although Øyre Slind is an experienced long-distance skier, she admits that if everything goes right at Beitostølen, she would agree to go to the World Cup if the offer came.

“The long-distance season doesn’t start until December, so I’ll say yes to it if I get the opportunity,” she says and continues:

“I only go skating 1-2 times a week, and I know I’m not good enough in that circus here. At the same time, I’m getting old and all that,” says Øyre Slind, laughing.

A Ski Classics pre-season race at Sjusjøen on November 12 will be organized this year. The Sjusjøen Super Criterium, a Ski Classics Challengers event, is organized by Ski Classics in cooperation with Sjusjøen and the Norwegian Biathlon Association.

Here you can read more about the Sjusjøen Super Criterium.

Exciting Format

Sjusjøen Super Criterium format is a mass start of 30 kilometers with several laps of less than five kilometers.

Do you think the format of the Sjusjøen Super Criterium with short laps and mass start favors all-round skiers?

“Yes, the more all-round-like the tracks become, the more it favors all-round skiers, of course. At the same time, it will be important which way we go. If it is to ski with no kick-wax, then it favors us, long-distance skiers, again.”

Attracts Big Names

Earlier this week, it became clear that Petter Northug is making a comeback on the ski tracks during the Sjusjøen Super Criterium. Ida Dahl will also be on the starting line at Sjusjøen in November. The Swedish Pro Team athlete took four victories and came second overall during last season’s Ski Classics.

In other words, the duel between Øyre Slind and Dahl will be one of the great highlights of the race.

The Sjusjøen Super Criterium will be TV produced by NRK in cooperation with Ski Classics/Wsportsmedia. The broadcast will also be available at SC Play, langrenn.com, langd.se, maastohiihto.com, and proxcskiing.com, with English commentaries. 

The Funniest Race I Raced Last Year

Last year the Pro Tour star surprised by appearing at the biathletes’ season opener. There, the Norwegian impressed by having the best skiing time. With a little too many misses on the stand, it ended up being 27th place in the sprint.

“That biathlon race was the funniest race I ran last year. I had low expectations and was just trying something new. This year, unfortunately, I am obliged to go long-distance skiing,” says Øyre Slind.

Traveling To Mallorca With The Sisters

Astrid Øyre Slind and the rest of Team Aker Dæhlie are awaiting the snow on a ten-day training camp in Mallorca, Spain. Also on the team are twin sister Silje Øyre Slind and younger sister Kari Øyre Slind.

Everything about Ski Classics can be found here.