The latest Ski Classics winner and bearer of the Climb bib, Oskar Kardin, Lager 157 Ski Team, has started the season brilliantly. Now, Kardin reveals the strategy that will give him an edge in the crucial events.

After securing his first victory in four years, Oskar Kardin discusses how he has fine-tuned details to maximize his performance. By optimizing his body weight, he has enhanced his climbing ability, which can be crucial in the challenging uphill segments of Ski Classics. Combined with careful recovery after an intense competition period, the Swedish Pro Team athlete looks forward to continuing his strong performance.

“It’s always fun to win again. It’s been four years since the last time, so it feels really special”, says Oskar Kardin from Lager 157 Ski Team.

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Kardin’s last victory came four years ago in an icy cold Engadin La Diagonela.

” It’s going to be a tough race,” especially the last ten kilometers, he predicts.

Oskar Kardin – “Many Ski Classics Skiers Do It”

Before January’s competitions, Kardin focused on adjusting his body weight to handle the challenging terrain better. Between the Bruksvallarna weekend and his latest race, he lost about two kilos, making a significant difference in the uphill segments. With his current weight at 77 kilos, he feels lighter and faster in steep parts, where races are often decided.

“It becomes easier to ski, especially uphill,” explains Kardin to Langd.se, continuing: “I guess many in Ski Classics do the same thing. Many professional athletes work with similar strategies, and for me, it has made a big difference”.

The Importance of Recovery

The victory, however, did not come without effort. The latest competition weekend was a physical and mental challenge for Kardin, who admits that his body has not felt optimal during training afterward. Instead of pushing himself further, he has focused on easy sessions and recovery.

“I haven’t done any interval sessions after the weekend. Instead, I’ve been doing two to four hours of skiing per day at a slower pace. For me, it’s important to listen to my body and give it time to recover,” explains Kardin.

Competition Focus Moving Forward

With a series of intense races ahead, including shorter courses with new challenges, Kardin aims to continue building his form. He expects tough finishes with large groups in the final part of the races and believes his current strategy can give him an advantage in these scenarios.

“I really enjoy this race, especially the finish. But I think there will be a big difference this coming weekend. It was almost 20 kilometers longer when I won last time”, says Kardin.

As long as Kardin can maintain the balance between training, rest, and competition performance, the chances are high that we’ll see him on the podium several more times this winter. Currently, he leads the Climb bib competition outstandingly.

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