The Pro Team Director of Lager 157 Ski Team, Anton Järnberg, brought Alvar Myhlback into the team when he was just 16. Now, the young talent has decided to focus solely on long-distance skiing.

“I think the big winner here is Alvar,” says Järnberg.

Just over a week ago, the news came out: Alvar Myhlback chose long-distance skiing and Lager 157 Ski Team over traditional cross-country skiing and the Swedish national team program. At the time, he said:

“I’ve found a team where I feel comfortable and can fully develop. I’ve always loved long-distance races, and now feels like the right time to commit to this discipline fully.”

Read More: Myhlback goes all-in on long-distance skiing with Lager 157 Ski Team renewal

Alvar is the big winner

The Pro Team Director at Lager 157 Ski Team, Anton Järnberg, brought Alvar into the team when he was 16. Now, after winning the Vasaloppet in March, he is going all in on Ski Classics.

“I think the big winner is Alvar, being able to commit to something and not be divided or scattered. Just fully focusing on one thing,” says Järnberg to Langd.se.

What do you think was the decisive factor in his decision?

“It’s easy to point to the Vasaloppet win, and that’s part of it. But I’ve always felt that he highly valued the team and long-distance format. It has, in a way, become his home turf.”

Recruited Myhlback early

Before the past season, both Järnberg and Myhlback understood that a decision would eventually have to be made.

“I think both he and I were clear that next year would have to be a turning point for his sake,” says Järnberg, and continues:

“We could have continued the same way. We’ve gained a lot from Alvar being with us. But for him to get the most out of himself in the short term, I think this was an important step. Then you can also look at it long-term in terms of motivation and development. This short-term choice will be important for his longevity.

Lager 157 Ski Team picked up Alvar already when he was 16. Järnberg believes that could be one of the reasons why he now chooses to go all-in on long-distance skiing.

“What I feel is that we picked him up really early, this is his home turf. He thrives in the team and with his teammates. We train and compete together, and here no one is on loan or trying to take someone else’s spot. Everyone has their place. I think those things are important to him — being able to focus and not feel like it’s just about this or that race,” says the Pro Team Director.

Also Read – Alvar Myhlback: “Skiing is pretty much my life”

What will he be able to achieve now that he’s focusing only on long-distance races, and how will that differ from previous years when he started the season with traditional cross-country skiing races?

“That’s a very relevant question that hasn’t been asked much, and I find it very interesting. From my perspective, I see that he is incredibly strong in what we do during the summer and fall — our training camps and Vasapass workouts. But he hasn’t really been able to show that in the long-distance races until this year’s Vasaloppet.”

“That’s the level I believe he should be at consistently. He’s been at an incredibly high level during the past two dryland seasons. Then he drops a bit when he returns to long-distance racing after focusing on traditional racing in the fall. I believe he will now become more consistent, more stable — and even raise his top level,” he concludes.

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