The Ski Classics Legend Kateřina Smutná, who has won Jizerská50 twice, will be back to racing the Czech long-distance race. ProXcSkiing talked to the Legend to know more about her goals and how she spends her time nowadays.

Kateřina Smutná is a Ski Classics legend who has won eleven Pro Tour events. Among the races she has won, there are two victories at Marcialonga, two victories at Jizerská50, and one at Vasaloppet. Smutná began her long-distance career in 2015, winning both Jizerská50 and Marcialonga and finishing second at La Diagonela, König Ludwig Lauf, and Birkebeinerrennet.

Read More: Get To Know The Ski Classics Legends

Last year, Kateřina Smutná decided to compete again at Jizerská50 and finished the race in the top 10, which is impressive for someone who is not training to be in top form anymore. This year, Kateřina, racing for Ski Team Betula, is starting the Czech event again, so we talked to her to learn more about her goals and how she spends her time nowadays.

How has your life been since you stepped away from long-distance skiing?

“I ended my career after the 2020/2021 season. Last year, I trained quite a lot, especially because I worked with an Austrian cross-country skiing team. At the beginning of the current season, I switched to training the women’s Nordic Combined team. I am now in charge of the technique and still massage the girls in my free time. It’s an ideal combination for me because massaging is my hobby.” 

How have you been training for Jizerská50?

“Because they (the athletes) train only skating technique, this was the first year of my life that I didn’t do any classic technique training. When I decided two months ago again for Jizerská50, I started to train double poling. I must be in shape mainly for the girls to keep up with them in training. But mainly, I have to keep training because I love food, and without movement, I would soon feel that.”

Last year you were top 10 at Jizerská50. Do you have any ambitious goals for this year?

“This year, I didn’t really start training until mid-November, so I don’t have the same ambitions as last time when I wanted to be in the top 10. This year, like last year, I will donate all the money raised from sponsors to families with financial difficulty. So, for me, the motivation is not the top result, although a little bit of course, too, but mainly because I can help people in need.”

How do you see the development of Ski Classics since you retired from the professional rankings?

“This year, I was pleased that Ski Classics attracted a lot of new young girls, which is positive. The only thing I don’t like is weekends when there are two marathons in a row. My opinion is that it is such a burden on the body that it might be dangerous for the athlete’s health.”

Do you see yourself coming back maybe for other races?

“Jizerská50 will definitely be the only Ski Classics race in which I will participate this year. I am busy until the end of March; there are still several World Cup races, Continental Cups, and especially the World Championships at the end of February,” concludes Kateřina Smutná.

The upcoming Ski Classics Pro Tour event is Jizerská50, a 50km classic technique event in the Czech Republic on February 12.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)

• Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
• Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
• Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km 
• Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
• Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 32km
• Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 48km 
• Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
• Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
• Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.

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