Anders Aukland, Team Ragde Charge, made his World Cup debut just over 30 years ago. Won Olympic gold in 2002, World Championships gold in 2003, and Vasaloppet in 2004. On Sunday, the 16-time stage winner in Ski Classics ends his outstanding professional career.

“I want to finish in style,” says 50-year-old Anders Aukland.

On March 13, 1993, Anders Aukland made his first start in the World Cup. The 20-year-old finished 22nd at the Holmenkollen’s 50km race. It was the start of an international skiing career that was, in many ways, unprecedented.

Last autumn, Anders Aukland turned 50. Just a few months earlier, he had finished fifth at the Tartu Ski Marathon and ninth at Vasaloppet.

“It is a special feeling to prepare for my last two races. But I look forward to what lies ahead. I hope to do two good races, and I want to finish well. I want to finish in style,” says Aukland.

And it is already clear that at least Saturday’s Reistadløpet will be a special competition:

“I will go with kick wax. This will be the first time I diagonal in the competition since Reistadløpet 2019. After Birkebeinerrennet two weeks ago, I have skied four sessions with kick wax: plus some diagonal intervals on the treadmill. I have tried to find some old knowledge in diagonals,” smiles Aukland.

In 2011, Aukland took the step over to long-distance skiing. He won the Ski Classics debut, Jizerská50. And in total, he has won 16 races in Ski Classics.

Teammate and winner of the last Ski Classics competition Andreas Nygaard has some comments:

“We have skiers in the same team for nine seasons. It has been an awesome journey; too bad it ends now. But I hope we will also have a lot in common in the future. Anders has been motivated, super interested, and always found great joy in developing as an active person. He is truly one of a kind. I would say that he is the definition of a long-distance skier,” praises Nygaard.

Anders Aukland will continue to be an important part of Team Ragde Charge, but now from a leadership position; this together with his brother Jørgen and Pro Team Director Magnar Dalen.

What will you miss when you leave elite skiing?

“I will miss the feeling of being in good shape, to look forward to the competition. And getting nervous before the start of Vasaloppet,” says Anders Aukland.

Next up is Reistadløpet on April 1 and Summit 2 Senja on April 2. The events mark the 13th and 14th Ski Classics stages and the final weekend of Season XIV.

The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)

• Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
• Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
• Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km 
• Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
• Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 32km
• Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 48km 
• Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 12km
• Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
• Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 68km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.