The Ski Classics season finale is fast approaching. After the podium at Birkebeinerrennet, Runar Skaug Mathisen, Lager 157 Ski Team, is one of the favorites for the weekend.

After a challenging season, Runar Skaug Mathisen finally succeeded at Birkebeinerrennet – a podium place that meant a lot at the end of the season.

“I have heard about the Birken since I was young. It was the coolest and toughest thing you could do in the whole world. It has always been important for me to do well at Birkebeinerrennet,” says Runar to Langrenn.com.

In previous years, Skaug Mathisen’s best result in the traditional Norwegian long-distance race was 18th place. With a troubled pre-season, he describes a great relief with success on “home ground.”

“The season has been a bit tough. With Covid around Christmas time, I haven’t gotten quite what I wanted after that,” says Skaug Mathisen and continues:

“I have taken it carefully to build up. I had a slight illness but tried to hold back a little. Lately, the body has started to respond. I have then adjusted the plan.”

The 29-year-old talks about the recipe for success he has used to get in shape when his body finally started to respond again. With extra hard sessions, he finally started to notice his good old form.

“I need hard sessions to get in shape. Maybe extra when I have had periods of illness.”

Decisive Move

The fact that Skaug Mathisen could follow the front group early in Birken may have been decisive.

When the skiers crossed Skramstadsætra, a small group consisting of Andreas Nygaard, Johan Hoel, Magnus Vesterheim, and Runar Skaug Mathiesen set off.

“I saw that no one from Lager 157 Ski Team was there, so then I had to take responsibility and try to follow.”

The quartet at the front gained more and more time over the main group, and it became clear that they would fight for the three podium places.

“Andreas Nygaard made some small moves throughout, and there was no doubt that he was the strongest in the group. My goal was to take his back, but I was a bit blocked there, and Johan Hoel came on the side and grabbed second place. But the podium was a victory for me that day.”

Exciting Weekend Ahead

With two Pro Tour events left in Ski Classics Season XIV (Reistadløpet and Summit 2 Senja), it will be an exciting weekend where Skaug Mathiesen still has much to fight for.

Before the weekend, Lager 157 Ski Team leads the competition by a small margin. Thirty points separate them from Team Aker Dæhlie in second place.

“There will be a fight to become the best Pro Team. The competition means a lot to the whole team, which has never been able to take that victory.

He admits that the Pro Team competition was not initially the goal for the team before the season.

“Alvar (Myhlback) and Karo (Karolina Hedenström) have done much better than we expected. They went so fast, and Emil (Persson) has almost won everything; we are at the top.”

But before that, 108 tough kilometers await in northern Norway, where everyone on the Lager 157 Ski Team must perform.

“It will be a tough end to the season. If I keep the shape, then the races suit me well. I finished seventh in Reistadløpet last year.”

Are you going to use kick wax at Reistadløpet?

“No, I choose double poling. I haven’t trained anything with kick waxing, so I’m too bad at that. Double poling is my only chance to take another podium.”

Will we see a double-poling winner this year?

“I think that is definitely possible.”

Reistadløpet is known for being one of the toughest races in Ski Classics, and never before has anyone won only double poling. The same will apply in Sunday’s race, Senja 2 Summit. Then 1.455 meters of climb await over the 68 kilometers.

Next up is Reistadløpet on April 1 and Summit 2 Senja on April 2. The events mark the 13th and 14th Ski Classics stages and the final weekend of 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, 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

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