Last weekend, Alvar Myhlback, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, made big impressions at the traditional cross-country skiing races in Bruksvallarna, Sweden. On Saturday, the 16-year-old Myhlback, and Ski Classics Season XII second place overall Dahl, won the Swedish long-distance premiere in Edsåsdalen.

The men’s race was fast from the start, and Lager 157 Ski Team made sure of the pace with the quartet of Alvar Myhlback, Emil Persson, Torleif Syrstad, and Nils Dahlsten (formerly Persson). 

“Torleif skied hard on the hill on every lap, but it was difficult to get away. I understood quite early on that it would be decided on the last lap,” says Myhlback in the live broadcast on Lager 157 Ski Team’s YouTube page. 

And it was a fierce battle in the final between Myhlback and Emil Persson:

“Very nice to beat Emil in the sprint. I’m happy with the way I completed the race. I kept my energy level high the whole way. Then it will certainly be felt in the body today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday). I was a little nervous before the race with the logistics of liquids and refueling. But it worked well. It’s great to get off to such a good start; this provides motivation for the future,” says Myhlback.

Men’s Results

1. Alvar Myhlback, Lager 157 Ski Team
2. Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team
3. Torleif Syrstad, Lager 157 Ski Team
4. Nils Dahlsten (formerly Persson), Lager 157 Ski Team
5. Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden

On the women’s side, the 75 minutes and three laps on the Edsåsdalen’s 1.4-kilometer loop were won by Ida Dahl, Team Engcon.

“It was a tough course. You don’t notice it when you only ski one lap, but it gets harder when you ski lap after lap,” says Ida Dahl in the competition’s live broadcast. 

For a reasonable amount of time, there was a duel between Dahl and Team Ramudden’s athlete Emilie Fleten. But with just over 15 minutes left in the race, Dahl made a decisive move:

“It was a bit unusual to go long-distance racing again. It was a little tough before I got into it, but it was nice once I found the flow. And it’s always fun to compete when things go well,” says Dahl. 

Already Saturday afternoon, Ida Dahl traveled to Italy to make the final preparations for the Ski Classics premiere in two weeks:

“We are going to Livigno. It will be really good to get some vitamin D again,” smiles Dahl in the YouTube broadcast. 

Women’s Results

1. Ida Dahl, Team Engcon
2. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden
3. Karolina Hedenström, Lager157 Ski Team
4. Frida Hallquist, Team Engcon
5. Linnea Johansson, Lager 157 Ski Team