Eddie Edström talks about the switch to long-distance skiing, the solid first season in Ski Classics, and the change to Team Engcon together with his partner Ida Dahl.

Eddie Edström has just finished a solid first season as a long-distance skier. Now he is prepared for the summer training with his new team Team Engcon. After a year with Lager 157 Ski Team, Eddie and his partner, Ida Dahl, the second place overall in Ski Classics, changed to Team Engcon for the coming year. 

Edström describes the season as good and highlights that he has taken steps as a skier.

“I am happy that I was able to be with the very best in the group all the way on several occasions but do not think that the sprint has been there.” 

What has been the highlight? 

“I’m probably most happy with “Diagonelan” (La Diagonela). I could keep a high speed and keep up when the tempo was high on the easy-going parts, where I think I had a bit of a hard time. It was the race where I felt that I was keeping up.”

What would you say is your greatest strength as a long-distance skier?

“I think it has been easy for me to get to the start and get in position. I feel that I stand the distance. Since then, the downhill skiing has gone well. The recovery has worked well between races as well.” 

Which areas are important to develop?

“Double poling at high speed for a long time, I think. To be able to save energy on easier parts. It will be a lot of work with technique but also strength. And since I want a little better sprint, that’s important.” 

Further, on the theme of lessons learned from his first long-distance skiing season, Eddie highlights the position game during the races. He emphasizes that you cannot trust that the other skiers have strength left and that you must trust yourself. Furthermore, he also thinks that he has learned a lot about how it works before and during the competitions, which are details he hopes to use in the future.

When and why did you decide to make the switch to long-distance skiing?

“I decided after the season last year to investigate the possibility. I have always liked longer races. In the races I had done, I felt that there was a lot to do for me there. I looked forward to that challenge.” 

What would you say is the most significant difference compared to traditional cross-country skiing? 

“It is very concrete what to do. We double pole every race, and it is long races. It will not be like training for sprints and 15km or 30km. Then you get to race the full season, there are competitions almost every weekend, and I think it’s great fun to compete. Then it’s not just about double poling. There are several parts in the double poling, flat double poling, etc.” 

It will be a new team for you next season. How did you choose Team Engcon?

“After the season, I got some offers. Jerry (Ahrlin), the Pro Team Director in Team Engcon, contacted me and wanted to meet and asked if I was interested in joining the team. I thought it felt like a very nice opportunity to build something together and that there were job opportunities within the company Engcon. Then it’s fun that it’s a local company and that the company’s founder is so involved in skiing. It was an opportunity to be able to dedicate myself. Then it was fun that my partner Ida (Dahl) could also start in Team Engcon so we could do something together.”  

Team Engcon will have several camps in different places in Sweden during the summer, and Eddie is also looking forward to the competitions during the base season.

“I think it is very important for the sport that we become a year-round sport. That we will be able to be seen even in the summer, it’s also fun to compete and feel a little speed and put on the bib. It can be a motivating factor.” 

What are your goals for the coming season? 

“It is good to increase stability and step more into the top ten list. I was in the top ten once last winter, and I want to end up at a more stable level there. You also have to dream, and then it is time to take the first podium place.” 

Which race suits you well?

“It is Birken (Birkebeinerrennet) that suits me best. There are some uphills that worked well, and there are also a lot of slopes that I think are fun. Especially the fast one at the end. It is a nice competition, and I got good feelings when I went there this year,” says Eddie Edström.