Forget dating apps: if you’re single, long-distance skiing might be a surprisingly good place to meet someone. Here are the skiers who have found each other in the Ski Classics circuit.

It’s perhaps not surprising that romance can blossom both on and off the ski tracks when more than 30 Pro Teams travel together from December to April. And in recent years, several long-distance skiers have found love in Ski Classics – even across team and national borders.

Here are some of the couples in the long-distance scene:

Ski Classics Legends Emilie Fleten (33) and Emil Persson (30)

The Vasaloppet winners, who represent two different Swedish Pro Teams, kept their relationship private for several months before eventually moving in together in Östersund. Fleten competes for Team Ramudden, while Persson races for Lager 157 Ski Team.

Also Read – The ski couple reveals: Stronger than ever after moving in together

Magni Smedås (30) and Théo Schely (26)

The Norwegian long-distance star from the Swedish Team Eksjöhus lost almost all of last season but found love with French skier Théo Schely.

Smedås, originally from Dalsbygda and related to Therese Johaug, now splits her time between Lillehammer and the French Alps.

Amund Hoel (28) and Hanna Lodin (26)

Amund Hoel, who finished second overall in Ski Classics last winter, skis for the Swedish Pro Team, Team Engcon. He is together with teammate Hanna Lodin, and this summer the Swedish long-distance skier moved to Norway to live with Hoel.

Thomas Ødegaarden (26) and Laurie Flochon Joly (28)

Thomas Ødegaarden of Team Ramudden has quite a long commute to visit his girlfriend, Laurie Flochon Joly. She comes from the French Alps and skis for Team Nordic Expérience. He skis for Ramudden. But from December to April, they are usually both on the road – following the same race itinerary.

Mikael Gunnulfsen (32) and Marthe Bjørnsgaard (32)

The Norwegian couple, who became parents for the first time in May, now both ski for the Pro Team, Team Ragde Charge. Gunnulfsen is ready for his first season in long-distance skiing, while Bjørnsgaard is making a comeback this winter.

Karolina Hedenström (25) and Alfred Buskqvist (29)

Karolina Hedenström has dominated the Youth category in Ski Classics for several years. This summer, the couple got engaged, and in the autumn, the two Swedes – who ski for two different Pro Teams – moved to the mountains outside Östersund.

Julie Kvale Støstad (27) and Gaute Kvåle (30)

Julie Kvale Støstad from Drammen went straight from almost 10 years as a professional soccer player to finishing in the top 10 overall in Ski Classics and taking third in the Youth competition in her very first winter focused on long-distance skiing.

Støstad, now in her third season on the circuit, was recruited by Team Ramudden before last season. Gaute Kvåle has moved from traditional cross-country skiing to long-distance skiing and skis for Team Aker Dæhlie. Perhaps the coming winter will be the couple’s true breakthrough season.

Gjøran Tefre (31) and Sophia Laukli (25)

Both Norwegian Gjøran Tefre and American Sophia Laukli are part of Team Aker Dæhlie’s all-around program, both with World Cup top results on their CVs, while also racing for the long-distance squad led by Chris Jespersen. For Laukli, one of only three women on the Pro Team, the World Cup and the Olympics are her main goals.

Tefre has spoken about the tremendous progress he made after joining the private team, and how much he enjoys switching seamlessly between long-distance and traditional cross-country skiing.

Vebjørn Moen (27) and Johanna Hagström (27)

Love across national borders: Norwegian Vebjørn Moen skis for Team Eksjöhus, while Johanna Hagström skis for the Swedish national team and is chasing an Olympic spot. But, when possible, the sprint star enjoys long-distance races too and has both won and reached the podium at Kobberløpet in Sulitjelma.

Kat Paul (29) and Lauro Brändli (28)

She is half Australian and half New Zealander, he is entirely Swiss, and both ski for the Swiss Pro Team, Team BSV IBEX.

Hilda Löf (25) and Johannes Eklöf (30)

Both Swedish long-distance skiers ski for the Pro Team Ski Team Göhlins, based in Småland. There aren’t many couples dating within the same team, but these two are an exception.

Athletes and support staff

Some also find love within the support teams or across long-distance and traditional cross-country skiing.

Ole Jørgen Bruvoll (30) and Marte Skaanes (29)

The overall winner of Ski Classics Season XVI (2024/2025) lives with traditional cross-country skier Marte Skaanes. Bruvoll, who skis for the Swedish Pro Team, Team Engcon, took the overall win in only his second season.

The team swept the entire men’s overall podium and won the women’s overall last season. Bruvoll is now entirely focused on defending the Yellow bib in the coming winter. Skaanes went all-in for the home World Championships last winter, but ended her World Cup career after the season – despite winning the relay gold at the Norwegian Championships with Berit Mogstad, who is herself in a relationship with national team skier Jan Thomas Jenssen.

Jørgen Ulvang (31) and Ane Appelkvist Stenseth (30)

Jørgen Ulvang, Team Engcon Pro Team Director, is engaged to sprint star Ane Appelkvist Stenseth. The 30-year-old from Grong was dropped from the national team last year and is now in her second season with a private setup. Wedding plans are coming up soon.

Thereza Hujerová (27) and the snowmobile pilot

The 27-year-old from the Pro Team, Team Slavia Pojišťovna Robinson Trentino, found love with the man who pilots the snowmobile in Ski Classics Pro Tour events.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII

The Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII is set to captivate skiing fans with an exciting and diverse lineup of events. Spanning 13 events over 9 weekends in 6 different countries, the winter season promises full action and memorable racing.

The Pro Tour Season XVII kicks off in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 13, 2025, with the return of a familiar format: the Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo. The season concludes in Finnsnes, Norway, with the Ski Classics Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja on March 29, 2026.

Also Read – Ski Classics: Complete calendar for the Pro Tour Season XVII