With a fourth and fifth place in the Ski Classics Season XIV before Christmas, Magni Smedås is one of the top names when the Pro Tour returns this weekend.

La Venosta Criterium Left An Unexpected Mark

“During La Venosta, I got very cold, which gave me some trouble after the race. I collapsed and needed medical assistance after the race. It was not a fun experience,” says Smedås during yesterday’s Ski Classics pre-event interview.

“I learned a lot about myself. Now I know I need to wear more clothes next time. It’s different to do long-distance skiing compared to traditional cross-country skiing.”

The long-distance skier from Norway says it took several days after La Venosta to get back on her feet. And there are still some problems:

“I still struggle with the cold. I get cold all the time. But I just have to take my time.”

Although the 27-year-old chose to leave traditional cross-country skiing and focus on long-distance skiing before this year’s winter, Smedås got the chance to race the World Cup in Lillehammer before Christmas. Jenny Larsson (Team Ragde Charge), and now also at the Tour de Ski, Ida Dahl (Team Engcon), and Astrid Øyre Slind (Team Aker Dæhlie). 

When you see Ida and Astrid doing so well, are you inspired to do more traditional cross-country skiing again?

“First, I think they are super tough in choosing to compete in Tour de Ski and Ski Classics. I did the Tour in 2020, and it was very tough. I think they both know it now. It will be exciting to see how they perform now this weekend,” says Smedås and continues:

“For me, however, it is more clever to just focus on Ski Classics. Especially because this is my first season as a long-distance skier, so to combine both, for me, would be a bad combination because I’m not trained well enough for it.”

What do you think about your chances this weekend?

“Right now, I think they are very good. I didn’t get to train as much as I wanted this Christmas because I got sick, so I’ve been training quite lightly. Now I have acclimatized to the altitude here in Lavazé, and I have eaten a lot of Haribo. I try to eat myself up to a good shape,” laughs Smedås.

Watch Here: Pre-Event Interviews Live On SC YouTube Today From 15:00 CET

The upcoming Ski Classics Pro Tour event is Pustertaler Ski Marathon, a 62km classic technique event in Italy on January 14, followed by Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, a 30km race also in Italy on January 15, 2023.

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, 40km 
• 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, 55km 
• 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 and overall standings you can find at skiclassics.com.

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