After the Ski Classics Season Finale in Norway, Marek Pazderský was elected to the Ski Classics Hall of Fame as the best Pro Team Director of Season XIV. The award recognizes Pro Team Directors with extraordinary directorial skills, unwavering dedication, and unconditional love for long-distance skiing, working correctly to develop Ski Classics.

Pazderský leads the Czech Pro Team eD system Silvini Team. His dedication and commitment to his Pro Team are remarkable. Marek is the Pro Team Director that has been doing the job longer than no other, already managing the team, bearing the same name, since the second season of Ski Classics. He shows incredible passion for the sport and is an essential ambassador in a key market of cross-country skiing.

In an interview for ProXCskiing.com, Marek shared his thoughts about being awarded, what motivates him in his role, his challenges, and the development of Ski Classics.

“It’s very nice for me to be awarded as the best Pro Team Director of the Season. We started in the second season of Ski Classics, so this is a coronation for the long time being on Ski Classics and all the hard work.”

Marek Pazderský, the eD system Silvini Team Pro Team Director, finds his biggest motivation in helping others achieve their dreams. Having succeeded as a young skier, he now helps other skiers accomplish the same.

“The main motivation is to help other people achieve their dreams. I raced when I was young, achieved some success, and gradually started helping other skiers to achieve the same. And that’s in the position of a serviceman, organizer, manager, or coach. Our team is singular; it is made up of an amateur “race team,” which travels around Ski Classics and important races in the Czech Republic. The other part is made up of amateurs who enjoy skiing and want to improve,” says Marek and continues about the Pro Team:

“So, for the race team, I want to achieve the best possible position and for the rest of the team to awaken the desire to improve their skills. When all of this is successful, I consider it my success, and I am very happy, which motivates me to continue working for the team.”

What’s the most interesting about being a Pro Team Director?

“It’s a lot of work all year. It’s important to me that it’s not only a job but also fun. I have a job in the Czech Republic, and the Pro Team and all about Ski Classics is for the love of the sport. And I’m happy I have an understanding wife because I’m far from home often during the season. At the Season Finale, we had good weather, and our athletes performed well, so I like this job.”

Marek is proud that his team still sticks together despite the challenges they faced this season.

“In the beginning, everything looked good, a lot of new skiers, competition in the team, new skis, good preparation, and at the very first race, 8th place in the teams. A dreamy start, but it was replaced by misfortune when most of the athletes had Covid, some of them repeatedly. Sometimes our skis didn’t work, sometimes the service failed, and when everything was fine, we fell and broke our poles,” and continues:

“The most important is that the team is still together. We are all friends, and this is really important for us.”

Going back through the years, Pazderský can highlight the development of Ski Classics.

“The organization of Ski Classics is amazing. The start was ok, we tried something new, but every year it improved. Ski Classics is now more popular in the Czech Republic than the World Cup. Ski Classics is delivering an outstanding work.”

You have seen the long-distance skiing development over the years. Can you tell us about that?

“Double poling is the norm now. Before, you saw a big hill and thought it was impossible, but it is possible. And if you change that on your head, you can go double poling.”

What’s next for your Pro Team?

“Now I must speak with my wife if it’s possible to go one year more (and laughs). So, I start work finding new sponsors and partners and speak with athletes, and hope to have at least one more year with a Pro Team.” 

The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consisted of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

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, Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 12km
• 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.