By the end of June, the Pro Team athlete will set out on the longest roller ski trip of his life.

In June, the 31-year-old Pro Team athlete from Lillehammer will cross Norway on roller skis: an expedition of 500 kilometres and 5.500 meters of elevation gain over five days.

“There are now several who have crossed Norway on roller skis. But I haven’t seen anyone go across Norway from side to side, at least not the route I’m going,” says Pro Team athlete Haakon Holden.

He’s not aiming for a world record or to raise funds for anything. Many have gone significantly farther and much faster than what Holden is planning.

In 2022, Kevin Ramsfjell set the record for Norway’s north-south route on roller skis, covering the 2600 kilometres from Nordkapp to Lindesnes in ten and a half days. Last year, Swedish skier Fredrik Erixon roller-skied from Sweden to Barcelona in three weeks.

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But the hope is that the expedition will bring him a step closer to his main career goal:

“I have ambitions to reach the podium at Vasaloppet not too long from now,” reveals Holden.

This year, he finished 12th in the 90-kilometer classic race from Sälen to Mora, narrowly behind the Swedish long-distance skiing star Max Novak, a significant improvement from his 39th place in 2023.

Holden is now in his fourth season with Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso.

Also Read: Best Pro Team Director Season XV – Arnt Nyborg

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Expedition with a Purpose

The idea was suggested by a colleague back in March. The background for the project is multifaceted.

Firstly, Holden wants to challenge himself and his limits, to experience doing something a bit extreme.

“I’m driven by challenging myself, pushing myself further and harder. That’s perhaps what’s most fascinating about Ski Classics and long-distance skiing. And I want to move from point A to point B, go on a bit of an expedition. This is moderately extreme and definitely outside my comfort zone, but not entirely unattainable,” says Holden to Langrenn.com.

Additionally, he seeks the training benefits of incorporating a period of much more training than he typically does in a week, even during the summer months.

Holden has now established a plan for the project.

A rapid ascent up Sognefjellet

The project begins in Sogndal with what on paper is the toughest stage: crossing Sognefjellet to Krossbu. It covers 90 kilometres with a 2.115-meter elevation gain.

The next day, Holden continues down Bøverdalen to Lom and further to Sel.

“It will hopefully be a relatively easy stage,” says Holden.

The third stage goes from Sel to Dombås, over Dovrefjell to Hjerkinn and Folldal/Grimsbu. He’ll have to go on the E6 for a stretch from Dombås to Hjerkinn, and he’s curious about the traffic there.

The fourth stage goes from Folldal to Røros, via Alvdal, the east side of Glomma to Tolga, and finally to the cabin in Røros.

The final stage is a round trip to the Swedish border, starting and ending in Røros, including an honorary lap around Lake Aursunden on the way back from the national border to accumulate sufficient distance to reach 500 kilometers in total and around 100 for the stage.

The route is chosen partly because it doesn’t include tunnels, overly steep downhill stretches, or long stretches of poor road surface, while offering magnificent scenery and spectacular mountain areas.

As support, Holden’s father accompanies him. He’ll drive the support vehicle and assist with equipment, cooking, feeding, and logistics.

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The Dress Rehearsal

To test the challenge, Holden undertook a mini-expedition in mid-May. He covered 318 kilometres in three days, from Lillehammer to Røros via Ringebufjellet, including the section that will be the fourth stage of the summer expedition.

The dress rehearsal went beyond expectations. Holden arrived with all equipment intact and without any accidents or injuries, not even a blister. But he admits that he started to feel the strain on the third day.

“On the last day, I was tired, and it was tough to keep going. But I still managed to maintain a decent pace. It becomes a bit like entering a trance. You get into a rhythm, and as long as you work on maintaining good technique, you can keep a good pace even when tired,” he explains.

However, he’s still curious about how his body will perform when the trip is two days longer and an additional 200 kilometres. And how it will affect him if the weather turns cold or bad.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

“I haven’t really thought about it. I don’t see any major challenges, and I’ve been tired before. Now I just have to be tired a bit longer.”

Equipment

Holden plans to bring three pairs of roller skis, including one pair of skate skis, and an extra pair of poles.

“The intention is to pole most of the way, as the main point of the project is to incorporate a block of high-volume training in a specific movement form. But I felt it in my lower back during the dress rehearsal, so I’m considering skating for half a stage, for variation and relief, to avoid any overuse injuries,” says Haakon Holden.

The exact date when Holden will set out on the journey is not yet set. His father is retired and thus flexible, and Holden himself wants to check the weather forecast and temperature outlook before finalising the dates.

“But the rough plan is to start the journey sometime at the end of June.”