Silly Season: Started With 20 Years Old And Last Winter Had A Major Breakthrough
Team Engcon’s new athlete ‘started skiing’ as a 20-year-old. Last winter, the 24-year-old Hanna Lodin had her breakthrough and has been followed by several Pro Teams.
In 2019, Hanna Lodin did her first 90km on skis in her father’s footsteps. Her first thoughts about investing in skiing started at Vasaloppet Open Track (Öppet Spår) four years ago.
Five hours, seven minutes, and forty seconds after she left the start in Berga by in Sälen, she crossed the finish portal in Mora.
“My father skied when he was young, and in the family, Vasaloppet is something that is done every year. But it was only after that race in the Open Track that I felt that maybe this is something that you can focus on. Three years ago, I left my studies in Uppsala and moved to Umeå to try investing in skiing. And that renewal lives on. I’ve just started,” says Hanna Lodin, who would do her debut in Ski Classics the previous season.
But there was no race start for her at Team Curira as she had problems after Covid vaccination and could not start a single event. Last winter, she finally debuted, this time with Ski Team Göhlins.
Lodin started with a solid Season XIV, and in her first seven Ski Classics events, she was around the top 11 and 16.
The first time she finished in the top ten was at Vasaloppet, where she was ninth, followed by finishing tenth at Summit 2 Senja. And the debut season ended with twelfth place in the fight for the Champion bib and second in the Pink Youth competition.
Her success has secured a high interest in the Ski Classics transfer market:
“There were seven other teams that got in touch. But it was clear early on the best option would be Team Engcon for me. I got a good impression from Jerry (Ahrlin, Pro Team Director) and the whole team. And that the team would be bigger and that Ida (Dahl) is with us meant a lot to my choice,” says Lodin.
What did you learn during Season XIV that you can use for the coming winter?
“I’m ‘new’ at this, so I have learned a lot. I can take how courses look and how other skiers and I ski. But I also know what I need to develop to take the next step, and it’s really from technique, fitness, and speed. But it’s on the descents that I have the most to gain. I do not ski the same way as those who have been skiing since childhood, so it is important to practice a lot of downhill skiing.”
What is the goal for the coming season?
“I have not set any concrete goals. It’s about continuing to develop and getting stronger. Then I hope to have good results and be at the start in all events. Ida and Tove (Ericsson, read more here) will be very good for training with. I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead,” concludes Lodin.
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