During last year’s silly season, the Norwegian Runar Skaug Mathisen changed from Team ParkettPartner Sjusjøen to Lager 157 Ski Team to replace Øyvind Moen Fjeld, who had just retired from professional skiing. After having good results, with the best performance at Marcialonga 2021, Anton Järnberg decided that the Norwegian athlete would be a good addition to the Swedish Pro Team.

After a summer of training with the Lager 157 Ski Team, Runar’s performance improved. He finished the Ski Classics Champion competition, Season XII, in the 7th position and managed to have 2nd place in Årefjällsloppet, 4th place in Tartu Maraton, and 5th in Ylläs-Levi. 

Now that Skaug Mathisen is preparing and remains in the Lager 157 Ski Team for next season, ProXCskiing talked to the Pro Tour skier to know his thoughts about the past season, how he will train during summer, and to ask what goals motivate him to get ready for the new season.

You had an impressive season, finishing 7th overall in the Champion competition. How has Lager 157 Ski Team helped you improve your long-distance skiing career? 

“My move to one of the biggest teams in Ski Classics has helped me in several ways. During the summer and autumn, the foundation for a good winter is built. In Lager 157 Ski Team, we spend approximately a week every month together on training camp. Our training camps are short but very intense. We train a big volume both in low and high intensity. Most of the training in camps is double poling to get a little training overload on the upper body. It is survival of the fittest in these camps, and I have not been the fittest. But it has pushed me to become better.” 

“I was also intrigued to work with two of the biggest names in the sport, Britta Johansson Norgren and Emil Persson. Their results speak for themselves, and I wanted to know some of their training secrets. ‘You become whom you socialize with’ is a saying, and I think there is much to that.” 

“Thirdly, we are, of course, very dependent on the equipment. Both the skis and the equipment we are using have a big impact on the result we will get at the finishing line. The professionality and hard work of the waxing crew give us athletes the possibility to show our best. Our head wax tech, Marcus Laggar, works the whole year to pick, test, grind, and wax our skis to get the best equipment. Then the whole crew works day and night the last days to pick the best products for the snow on site. The results we conquer are due to real teamwork.”

What have been the best and worst moments for you during Season XII? 

“The whole January period was a bad time for me. My body didn’t respond the way I was hoping it would. I traveled home to Norway after Marcialonga, where I took a good look at myself in the mirror and found some weaknesses. The biggest one was a lack of aerobic fitness. I made some changes in my training schedule, and gradually during February and the start of March, I got better results.” 

“The highs came from Birkebeinerrennet and to the finish in Ylläs-Levi. Here I really found both my aerobic fitness and the mythical “top shape.” I was rewarded with my first podium at Årefjällsloppet.”

You have competed in both traditional and long-distance skiing races during your career. Which fits you best and why? 

“Long-distance has always fitted me best. I lack the anaerobic fitness needed in sprinting and the top aerobic fitness in 15 km. My almost 2 meters high and 90+ kg body performs better in flatter terrain, and when I can use the strength from my upper body.”  

Can you describe to us your summer training plans? 

“My summer training will consist of rollerskiing, biking, paddling, hiking, and strength training. I will train for many low-intensity hours to build the body to cope with the high intensity in the autumn and winter. There will also be some rollerskiing competitions to get the adrenaline pumping.” 

What are your ambitions for next season? 

“To finally get on the podium tasted good, so I will work to climb onto the top sometime next winter.”