2024 has just arrived, and today we chatted with Pro Team athlete Sandra Schützová from the Vltava Fund Ski Team. 

ProXCskiing.com talked with Sandra Schützová, Vltava Fund Ski Team, about her season preparations, her first events of Ski Classics Season XV, her plans for the upcoming races, and, of course, her schedule for New Year’s Day. 

Earlier this year, Schützova revealed one of her goals for Season XV, “I would like to get into the top 6 next season,” At La Venosta ITT, she reached her best Ski Classics Pro Tour result. 

Also Read – Sandra Schützová: setting high goals for Ski Classics Season XV 

With 25 Ski Classics Pro Tour individual events under her belt as a Pro Team athlete, she is a regular top 10 athlete. At La Venosta ITT, she reached her goal and finished in 6th place, being now 8th in the Yellow Champion competition, 8th at the Climb competition, and 11th at the Green Sprint bib competition.  

Read More: All results from Sandra Schützová at Ski Classics

Now that you get some insight about Sandra enjoy this New Year’s chat!

Sandra, tell us about the first Ski Classics Pro Tour events this season. How were Bad Gastein and La Venosta weekends for you?

“I was looking forward to when the racing circuit was to start again. I was already missing it. I enjoyed the Pro Team Tempo, and I had to get used to it a bit for the next races.”

At La Venosta Criterium, 9th place, and La Venosta ITT, 6th place, Schützova had her best results so far at the Ski Classics Pro Tour and shared her thoughts on her results and the events.

“It is true that both races at La Venosta suited me much better than last year. But at the same time, I think it was more of a kick-off for me before the rest of the season,” says the Czech Pro Team athlete and adds:

“I’m looking forward to Jizerská50 and Vasaloppet, so I would say that I’m also looking forward to the longer races. These pre-Christmas races seem like a great start to me. I didn’t do any preparatory races this year, so I think my performance will still go up.”

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Dryland season and preparations for the Winter went well for the Pro Team athlete until the end of September; then, she faced some challenging times. 

“The preparation until the end of September went almost without problems. Everything worked out as we planned with the coach. In the summer, I dealt with a bitten tongue, which I ended up having stitched up because it wouldn’t heal. But at the end of September, I had a problem with my foot,” says Sandra and explains. 

“I had a torn plantar aponeurosis and had to limit my training a lot. I had to cut out running completely. I also tried cycling and swimming. But in the end, I found out that it is also not good for the foot. So, I was forced to limit myself to only double poling and the upper body in the gym. It was already a bit depressing because I didn’t see any improvement and had ten days off. In November, I got sick at the altitude camp. So, the end of the preparation was not optimal. The goal for the rest of the season is to stay healthy and go to all the races ready.”

For New Year’s, Sandra Schützová will hit the road and travel for a training camp in preparation for the restart of Ski Classics Season XV in mid-January. 

“Just like last year, I will go to the Alps for a training camp on New Year’s. I will have a travel day and won’t celebrate the arrival of the New Year much because of that.

And as it could not be missing, New Year’s Day is a time for reflection and planning. Do you have any wishes for 2024?

“It’s a bit of a cliche, but I want to wish not only myself and loved ones but absolutely everyone good health.”

The article continues below.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV

The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries. The season started in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 9, 2023, and will end in Norway with the 100km Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet on April 13, 2024.

Next up is the 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon in Italy on January 13, 2024. The event marks the fifth Ski Classics Pro Tour stage of Season XV.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV (2023/2024)

• Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
• Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 37km 
• Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
• Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
• Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 56km
• Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 11, 2024 – Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
• Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
• Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
• Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
• Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

More information about the Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com