Astrid Øyre Slind Still Dreams About Vasaloppet

by INGEBORG SCHEVE/Leandro Lutz Translation • 02.02.2023

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Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, will hopefully start the 30km race in Planica, Slovenia, at noon on Saturday, March 4, and Vasaloppet in Sälen, Sweden, at 8:00 on Sunday, March 5. Is it possible?

Is it possible to perform at a top level in the 30km race at the World Championships in Planica one day and at the same time be well prepared for Vasaloppet less than 20 hours later? Astrid Øyre Slind, recently named to the Norwegian National Team for the World Championships 2023, believes it is possible.

Also Read: Norway’s Team For The World Championships In Planica

Astrid confirms that she still plans to first race the 30km event in the World Championships in Planica at 12:00 on Saturday, March 4, and then Vasaloppet in Sälen at 8:00 on Sunday, March 5. (See the facts at the bottom of the article case)

“Although I have been selected for the World Championships team, it has not yet been decided who will start each distance. But I guess it’s 30km that I’m most relevant to. And if I get to race it, the plan is to go straight from the 30km to Vasaloppet,” says Øyre Slind to Langrenn.com.

Øyre Slind has started in many World Cup races this season and finished seventh overall in Tour de Ski. When she took her first World Cup podium and became the best Norwegian in the 20km classic in Les Rousses last weekend, she secured the World Championship spot.

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*Astrid Øyre Slind, third at Les Rousses World Cup last weekend. Photo: Authamayou/NordicFocus.*

Not Afraid Of Back-To-Back Races

Øyre Slind believes it can work well to start at the 30km race in the World Championships one day and then go to Vasaloppet the next. It will not be the first time she starts two long-distance races in two days.

“I’m excited about how the body will feel at Vasaloppet after the 30km race at the World Championships, but I’m optimistic. Long-distance skiing is a bit like that where you can get into the race a little later in the race,” she says and continues:

“If things don’t go so well, it’s not a crisis. But if I don’t try, I’ll regret it. And I’m pretty sure no one has done it before.”

Vasaloppet Logistics

But is it even possible to realize the dream in practice? The 30km race at the World Championships in Planica starts at 12:00 on Saturday. Vasaloppet starts at 8:00 on Sunday.

Øyre Slind admits that she is excited about the logistics but chooses to believe it can be done.

“We are looking at various possibilities now. It will be tight, but I hope it works out.”

From Planica in Slovenia to Sälen in Sweden, it is just over 1.750 kilometers (straight line). The route by car is 2.150 kilometers and estimated at 25 hours without stops, so it is ruled out.

The flight from Munich to Stockholm takes two hours and 15 minutes, not including check-in and waiting time. In addition, it is four hours by car from Planica plus five and a half hours by car from Stockholm to Sälen.

“I think that as long as I’m in Sälen at a time that allows me to sleep longer than it takes to race Vasaloppet, then it should go well,” says Øyre Slind.

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*Astrid Øyre Slind won Vasaloppet 2022. She will not want to miss the chance to defend the title. Photo: Magnus Östh/Ski Classics*

Skis

Skis and equipment are Øyre Slind’s most minor concern in the logistics equation.

“In any case, I have two sets of skis for long-distance and traditional cross-country skiing. In long-distance races, I ski on double pole skis, and in all-round, I have traditional classic skis,” she says and explains:

“I am sending Vasaloppet skis with those from the team who will drive from Trondheim to Sälen. I am also sending a set of poles and Team Aker Dæhlie clothes with them. The team then test the skis and made them ready for me until I get to Sälen. So the logistics are just about getting myself to Sälen.”

See below the complete program for the World Championships in Planica, Slovenia.