Team Engcon has strengthened its squad for the upcoming season, and after a challenging roller ski season, the team is now in the final preparations for the winter. This is how the Pro Team is preparing for the Ski Classics Season XV.

Before last winter season, Team Engcon signed with Ida Dahl, and it was a success. After a solid season, she was crowned with the overall victory in the Ski Classics Champion competition.

For Season XV, Pro Team Director Jerry Ahrlin has made a few more changes on the women’s side where Tove Ericsson and Hanna Lodin will join Dahl:

“It looks inspiring. Tove is young and offensive. She is a skier who trains hard and is very good to have on a team. She has stepped up her game during the dryland season. Then I think both Tove and Ida come even more into their own when skiing on snow compared to roller skis. Then Hanna Lodin has impressed and really took steps. But it was expected,” says Pro Team Director Jerry Ahrlin to Langd.se. 

Also Read – Hanna Lodin: The long-distance skiing sensation

On the men’s side, alongside Eddie Edström and Anton Elvseth, the Pro Team has added a trio of Norwegians: Johan Tjelle, Amund Hoel, and Ole Jørgen Bruvoll.

“We have a very strong team and a broader line-up than last year. It looks interesting,” says Ahrlin.

What are your thoughts about the roller ski season?

“It has been a bit challenging. We had illnesses that disrupted the competition regarding Alliansloppet and, to some extent, in Ulricehamn (157 XCC Open), but we have received good feedback. If I am to highlight something, it is probably Hanna who has impressed, and Amund Hoel has also taken steps.”

Two months remain until the Ski Classics premiere. How are you preparing?

“We will have a camp in Mallorca at the end of October-November, but some skiers are going down ‘on their own’ in just a few days. Then, we will have skiers starting at the traditional premiere in Sweden and Norway (Gällivare and Beitostølen). Then we go on November 27 to Livigno to prepare at high altitude for the premiere in Bad Gastein. Then the skiers are there until just before Christmas with a break after the competitions in Bad Gastein and La Venosta,” says Ahrlin.

There are athletes in your team who could be considered for the World Cup. What’s your thought about that?

“If it becomes relevant, we will evaluate based on possible risks. Everyone has their focus on long-distance races, but it can work like last year, for example, when Ida raced the Tour de Ski,” concludes Ahrlin.

This is Team Engcon for Ski Classics Season XV

• Hanna Lodin
• Ida Dahl
• Tove Ericsson
• Eddie Edström
• Anton Elvseth
• Johan Tjelle
• Amund Hoel
• Ole Jørgen Bruvoll

Are you interested in Ski Classics and long-distance skiing? Click HERE and read more.