Guro Jordheim is having a standout season in the Ski Classics Pro Tour. With a mix of improved training, experience, and better skis, the Norwegian long-distance skier has taken a significant step forward compared to last year.

Proxcskiing.com caught up with Jordheim to hear her thoughts on her season so far, the challenges of balancing sport and work, and her goals for the rest of the season.

Finding the Right Formula

Reflecting on her performances this season, Jordheim acknowledges that she made some key adjustments after last year.

“This season has been a step up from last season. I guess it’s a mix of several reasons. I trained a little bit too hard on my easy sessions last year, and therefore carried some tiredness through the whole season. This year I’ve been better at skiing my own pace and doing what I thought I needed to improve,” she explains.

She also credits her strong team environment at Team Aker Dæhlie for pushing her forward. “I am very lucky to be a part of such a strong group of athletes. I can always see what they do, how strong they are, and use it as a baseline for myself.”

Jordheim also highlights the importance of experience in long-distance racing. “Like most skiers transitioning to long-distance races, just gaining the strength needed for these events takes time—years, I guess.” This season, she also feels that the ski setup has been better, giving credit to her wax team for their efforts.

Growth as a Long-Distance Skier

Having transitioned from traditional cross-country skiing to long-distance racing, Jordheim is relieved to see her continued improvement.

“There is pressure from the team and myself to perform. At the same time, my financial situation requires me to work a bit on the side. Finding the balance is challenging from time to time. However, it’s been fun and exciting to create some income while traveling, exploring the e-commerce field of business.”

Jordheim feels that she is developing in the right direction. “The biggest gain I’ve gotten from transitioning to long-distance is endurance-strength. I believe the transition was much needed for my development in general. My abilities in distance races have improved a lot.”

Looking Ahead

As the Ski Classics Pro Tour heads towards its Scandinavian segment, Jordheim remains focused on her season-long goals.

“My goals ahead of the season were to stay, for the most part, in the top 10. I hope to be within the top 10 for the last races as well,” she says optimistically.

One of the aspects she loves most about Ski Classics is the team element. “I love the team aspect. It is just such a great part of all the traveling, and I really love hanging out with all the athletes at TAD.”

Business Venture: ByG Socks

In addition to her success on the Ski Classics circuit, Jordheim has recently ventured into entrepreneurship with the launch of her own sock brand, ByG. Combining her passion for outdoor sports and design, she created a line of performance-oriented socks that blend style and function.

“About a year and a half ago, I was looking for socks that were both colorful and sophisticated, but not ‘clowny.’ I also wanted socks with features suitable for activities like five-hour runs in the mountains. I couldn’t find anything like that on the Norwegian market, which inspired me to start developing the perfect socks for sport and activity.”

After extensive research and collaboration with an Italian manufacturer specializing in high-performance fabrics, Jordheim has finally made her vision a reality. “The process has taken far longer than I expected, but I’m stoked to finally have them available for everyone to try. Being an athlete myself makes me even more critical when it comes to achieving perfection. I truly hope others love them as much as I do.”

Visit ByG’s online store here

The Journey from Collegiate Skiing to Ski Classics

Jordheim’s journey to professional long-distance skiing took a unique path through the U.S. collegiate system. She spent four years at the University of Utah, an experience that she says had a lasting impact on her both as an athlete and as a person.

“It’s hard to fully describe the full college experience to a Norwegian. You got to be there to know,” she once said in a previous Proxcskiing.com interview.