Last winter, Alvar Myhlback won twice at the Junior World Championships and finished third at Vasaloppet. A few weeks ago, he performed solidly against the Swedish national team skiers at the roller ski premiere in Ulricehamn.

In this article, Alvar Myhlback talks about the first training camp with the Swedish A-National Team, the winter, and the big goals for the coming season.

Alvar Myhlback’s career has taken off at lightning speed. The 18-year-old already has a trophy cabinet that many more experienced elite skiers can only dream of. But when he looks back to the previous season, he is not at all satisfied with the start of the winter:

“Until Christmas, it was a complete disaster, so I had to make some changes, which turned it around. So, from New Year and the rest of the season, you can say that it went the way I wanted the whole season to be,” says Myhlback to Langd.se.

Read More: Brilliant win for Alvar Myhlback at the Planica Junior World Championships

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What changes did you make to turn things around?

“Well, I didn’t do anything for a while. I sat on the sofa and ate food,” says Alvar and laughs.

But then, the season turned around, and when looking back on the winter of 2023/2024, you can see that he took double gold medals at the Junior World Championships, finished third at Vasaloppet and 19th at the Falun World Cup.

Just over a month ago, it was announced that he would be part of the Swedish Junior National Team, attend some training camps with the A-National Team, and participate in the Lager 157 Ski Team’s training camp activities in the run-up to the Ski Classics Season XVI.

Read More: Lager 157 Ski Team for Season XVI

Right now, he is at his first training camp with the Swedish A-National Team in Åre:

“It has been a good camp with many good sessions. Then, when it comes to training for the coming winter, I will continue in principle like I have done the last two years.”

Now that you are part of ‘several teams,’ there are many opportunities to go to training camps, for example. How do you keep the total load at the right level?

“It’s about prioritizing, and I have good people around me who tell me to hold back when I have to do it and push when that’s the case. Then it’s about listening too,” smiles Alvar, who a couple of weeks ago showed a solid performance at the roller ski race Svenska Spel Summer Tour in Ulricehamn:

“Of course, it’s nice to win, but I’ve skied fast on roller skis before. But when you enter winter and the racing season, everything starts again. Then nobody cares if you’ve been fast on roller skis. Everything I do now during the summer is about creating the conditions to go as fast as possible when we are on skis for the winter. Then the victory in Ulricehamn shows that I am at least in the game,” says Myhlback, who is clear about the main goal for next winter.

It’s the World Championships in Trondheim in late February and early March.

Also Read: Myhlback is one step closer to the World Championships

You have skied sprints at the World Cup and finished third at Vasaloppet, indicating great versatility. When you think about the World Championships, do you aim for any specific distance?

“I want to master everything, whether it’s skating or classic. Or whether it’s long or short. Last winter, it was clear that I skied better in classic (technique). So, I think that’s where I can get a top position. But I want to go just as fast in skating. And as I said, the World Championships is the big goal, but I don’t see that it wouldn’t be possible to do some long races as well. I don’t think I compete more than others; it’s just that I’m in two different arenas,” concludes Alvar Myhlback.