This weekend, multi-talent Edvin Håkansson will make his Ski Classics debut, becoming the youngest ever to compete and breaking Alvar Myhlback’s record.

On Sunday, Alvar Myhlback’s record will be surpassed when the Swedish Edvin Håkansson debuts for Team GS8 in Ski Classics. Myhlback currently holds the record as the youngest skier ever to start in a Ski Classics Pro Tour event.

When Myhlback set the previous record, he was 16 years, 8 months, and 19 days old. Edvin Håkansson, born in January 2009, will be just over 16 years old when he lines up for Sunday’s Grönklitt ITT.

He is a multi-talented athlete and ranks among the best in his age group in both traditional cross-country skiing and biathlon.

Debut on Sunday

Earlier this winter, during the Swedish Youth Championships, he reached the semifinals in the sprint event. Recently, he won a silver medal at the Swedish Junior Biathlon Championships. Now, the 16-year-old, who has not yet started high school, will make his Ski Classics debut for Team GS8.

“The thing is, Edvin is from Sunne, the same place I’m from. I’ve followed him since he was younger, but it’s only in recent years that we’ve started to get to know each other and talk a little. When I’ve been training in Sunne, I’ve seen him around. I’ve also seen the great results he has achieved in both cross-country skiing and biathlon,” says Team GS8’s Pro Team Director and Pro Team athlete Gabriel Strid.

Edvin will compete in Sunday’s 13-kilometer individual time trial, and in an interview with Fryksdalsbygden, he shares his thoughts ahead of his debut:

“The race is only 13 kilometers, not 50 kilometers like some other long-distance races. That makes it a bit easier to take part. The competition will be tough, but I can’t focus too much on the results. I see it as a fun experience, even if I end up among the last finishers,” he tells Fryksdalsbygden.

More Young Skiers Showing Interest

The idea is for Edvin to gain experience, but Gabriel Strid hopes that the young multi-talent will eventually want to be part of the journey with the Värmland-based Pro Team.

“As I see it, this first year is a bit of a trial period for Edvin—to test, observe, and be in the Ski Classics environment. Over time, I hope he develops an interest in Ski Classics and wants to join the team for the long term. But for now, he is focused on biathlon and traditional skiing, and now also long-distance skiing. He will have a lot to choose from in the future,” says Gabriel Strid, adding:

“I feel that many younger skiers have started to take notice of Ski Classics. I think more and more young athletes are becoming interested in long-distance skiing and Ski Classics.”

Read More – Grönklitt weekend: Ski Classics Season XVI heads to Scandinavia

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVI (2024/2025)

Season XVI of the Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events across 10 event weekends in 6 countries. It started in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 13, 2024, with the Pro Team Presentation and ends in Finnsnes, Norway, with the Ski Classics Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja on March 30, 2025.

• Event 0: Friday, December 13, 2024 –Ski Classics Pro Team Presentation XVI – Bad Gastein, Austria
• Event 1: Saturday, December 14, 2024 – Bad Gastein ITT – Sportgastein, Austria, 7km
• Event 2: Sunday, December 15, 2024 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Sportgastein, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: Saturday, January 11, 2025 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon – Sexten, Italy, 60km
• Event 4: Sunday, January 12, 2025 – La Venosta ITT Kapron-Melago – Val Venosta, Italy, 11km
• Event 5: Saturday, January 18, 2025 – Engadin La Diagonela – Pontresina-Zuoz, Switzerland, 43km
• Event 6: Sunday, January 26, 2025 – Marcialonga – Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 7: Sunday, February 9, 2025 – Jizerská50 – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 8: Saturday, February 15, 2025 – Grönklitt Criterium 61 – Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 61km
• Event 9: Sunday, February 16, 2025 – Grönklitt ITT – Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 13km
• Event 10: Sunday, March 2, 2025 – Vasaloppet – Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 11: Saturday, March 15, 2025 – Birkebeinerrennet – Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 12: Saturday, March 22, 2025 – Marcialonga Bodø – Bodø, Norway, 50km
• Event 13: Saturday, March 29, 2025 – Reistadløpet – Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 46km
• Event 14: Sunday, March 30, 2025 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway, 60km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com