Last winter, Fabián Štoček made a remarkable addition to his skiing career from strong performances in Ski Classics to diving into the exciting world of ski mountaineering. With a doctorate in scientific neuroscience from the University of Munich and fewer work commitments, Štoček could focus more on his athletic pursuits, taking on new challenges.

This past season, Fabián Štoček competed in 28 races, covering nearly 1,000 kilometers, and made a significant impression in both cross-country skiing and ski mountaineering.

In cross-country skiing this past season, Štoček won major events like the Merino Muster in New Zealand and the Vasaloppet China. His best performance was at the Marcialonga, where he finished 16th, proving his skill and solidifying his status as a strong competitor in Ski Classics.

Read more about Fabián’s time at the Vasaloppet China here

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Transitioning smoothly to ski mountaineering, Štoček represented the Czech national team. Despite being new to the sport, he showed impressive determination, earning a bronze medal at the Czech Championships and becoming a leader in the Czech ski mountaineering scene. Štoček alludes to the fact that Ski Mountaineering is a new and fast-growing Olympic sport, “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about the Olympics.”

Štoček spoke about his move into ski mountaineering and that it was not only strategic, but a decision filled with curiosity, “I’ve dreamed for a long time about racing in ski mountaineering. I’m drawn to the views of the valleys from higher altitudes and the challenge of fantastic descents.”

Reflecting on his first ski mountaineering season, Štoček admitted he initially overestimated his abilities but learned a lot about the sport, from mastering transitions to understanding different race formats. He explained that cross-country skiing and ski mountaineering complement each other. While cross-country skiing builds upper body strength, ski mountaineering focuses on the lower body, creating a balanced form of athleticism.

Looking ahead, Štoček is ready for future challenges. He plans to continue competing in both the Ski Classic Pro Tour and ski mountaineering events, driven by his love for adventure and excellence.

See Štoček’s Ski Classics results here