The final events of Ski Classics Season XIV, Reistadløpet and Summit 2 Senja, took place on April 1 and 2, and after a couple of weeks, many Pro Tour athletes are already enjoying their deserved vacation.

At this time of the year, snow is melting, the last winter competitions are taking place, and the month of April is known in Nordic skiing as the month to take a break. But how do long-distance skiers face this rest time?

Pro Tour athletes and recreational skiers must rest their minds and bodies after a long year of training and a challenging race season. In sports, vacation is also called the transition phase, the time between two macro-cycles, that is, between the race and the base periods. Therefore, skiers must take a break, varying from a few days to a few weeks.

This regenerative rest is critical for the athlete to return physically and psychologically prepared for a new training season. The purpose of this phase is not to leave aside the practice of physical exercises. On the contrary, it adopts other physical activities different from those practiced during training and competitions, focusing on well-being, relaxation, fun, and maintaining physical conditioning.

Thus, athletes can escape from routine and often dull training, stimulating other physical abilities. For those who continue to search for snow, one can choose alpine or mountaineering skiing. Why not try kayaking, surfing, gravel cycling, or playing tennis if one wants some summer activities?

Each athlete is free to choose the activity they enjoy, and gives them pleasure. Thus, a skier can continue to move the body, relax the mind, and still have fun. Long-distance skiers must consider their physical and mental well-being during this phase, avoiding excesses, such as food.

Therefore, it is essential to have moderation and common sense during rest time. It’s time to slow down, rest, ponder, have fun and be with family and friends. 

It’s time to put your short-, medium- and long-term goals on paper, plan your next training season, and organize your trips to next season’s Ski Classics events.

The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consisted 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, 12km
• 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, 68km

You can find more information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour and a list of confirmed dates for the upcoming Ski Classics Challengers events at skiclassics.com.