After a sixth place in Bad Gastein and competing in the Scandinavian Cup, Louise Lindström is ready for Engadin La Diagonela. Now, she praises her coach and emphasizes the importance of developing as a skier, regardless of the arena.

Louise Lindström has begun her second season in Ski Classics. In Bad Gastein, she secured a sixth-place finish in Austria. During the Christmas break, Louise took the opportunity to compete in the Scandinavian Cup.

“It feels great. I wanted to take the chance now that there was a bit of a break in the Ski Classics calendar, and this competition weekend fit quite well. It was a fairly smooth trip to travel to Helsinki over the weekend. It will be really fun to measure myself against the traditional skiers out in the Scandinavian Cup again,” she told Langd.se at the time.

Praises her coach

Since Lindström switched to Ski Classics in the spring of 2024, she has had Marthe Kristoffersen as her coach. Now, Louise praises the former Norwegian national team skier.

“She (Marthe) means so much, and she has been a very important player. Where I am today is largely thanks to her. She has made me believe in the whole process, that the work I’m doing is good enough and that it makes me a better skier every day,” she tells Langd.se.

The duo’s training philosophy is about becoming the best skier possible, whether in traditional cross-country skiing or in Ski Classics.

“Of course, Ski Classics is my main focus now. But we still have a philosophy that I should become as good a skier as I can be. That means mastering both the traditional arena and the long-distance arena. Marthe is very knowledgeable and professional in all types of training. I trust her, and if she believes in it, then I do too.”

“Racing is the best training”

Is there anything you can take from the Scandinavian Cup and traditional cross-country skiing into Ski Classics?

“I still see it as, cliché as it sounds, that racing is the best training. So, I think that even if it’s not exactly the same, it’s still about skiing fast on skis. I don’t see it as any disadvantage to keep racing during the break,” says Louise Lindström.

How does it feel ahead of La Diagonela and really getting the season going?

“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s actually at the beginning of the season that you look forward to these races the most. Getting back down to Europe and competing was really special last year. I’m excited about it,” she concludes.

Read More: All you need to know ahead of Engadin La Diagonela

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII (2025/2026)

Season XVII of the Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 13 events across 9 event weekends in 6 countries. 

• Event 1: December 13, 2025 – Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo – Sportgastein, Austria, 7km
• Event 2: December 14, 2025 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Sportgastein, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: January 17, 2026 – Engadin La Diagonela – Pontresina-Zuoz, Switzerland, 47km
• Event 4: January 25, 2026 – Marcialonga – Moena-Cavalese, Italy, 70km
• Event 5: January 30, 2026 – Bedřichov Sprint – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 1.5km
• Event 6: February 1, 2026 – Jizerská50 – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 7: March 1, 2026 – Vasaloppet – Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 8: March 7, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women – Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 9: March 8, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men – Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: March 14, 2026 – Birkebeinerrennet – Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 11: March 21, 2026 – Marcialonga Bodø – Bodø, Norway, 50km
• Event 12: March 28, 2026 – Reistadløpet – Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 35km
• Event 13: March 29, 2026 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway, 60km

For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour, make sure to visit skiclassics.com