When the Pro Tour started in 2011, women athletes in Pro Teams were only 15%. The proportion of women has since increased year by year, and when Ski Classics Season XIV approaches its final part of the Pro Tour, the female share of the Pro Team athletes is almost 40%, for the first time. In actual numbers, there are 116 female athletes in the Pro Teams during Season XIV.

David Nilsson, CEO Ski Classics, is determined about the idea of having equal numbers between genders:

“Since Season I, we have worked hard together with our Pro Teams to increase female athletes’ interest in long distance skiing and Ski Classics. We had 15% female Pro Team athletes in 2011, which was a terrible low. So, we set a goal of a 50/50 split between genders and have, over time, adapted rules and competitions to strive in that direction. Now in March 2023, we are close to 40%, so a better ratio, but Ski Classics and our events still have work to do until we reach 50%!” 

In total, there are 299 Pro Tour skiers registered, 116 women and 183 men. In other words, 38,8% of all Pro Tour athletes are women.

In total, there are 299 registered Pro Tour skiers registered, 116 women and 183 men. In other words, 38,8% of all Pro Tour athletes are women.

According to Rules & Regulations Season XIV, the number of registered Ski Classics Pro Teams is limited to 35. Each team must consist of a minimum of four and a maximum of ten athletes, including two athletes of each gender. 

In this sense, 299 registered Pro Tour athletes mean that 85,43% of the maximum 350 spots are occupied.

Next up is Birkebeinerrennet on Saturday, March 18. The race marks the 12th event of Ski Classics and the fourth and final Gran Classics Season XIV.

The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)

• Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
• Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
• Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km 
• Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
• Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 32km
• Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 48km 
• Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
• Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
• Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com. 

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