Last year, the super talent from IL Runar made headlines when, at just 19 years old, he defeated Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Simen Hegstad Krüger, and the rest of the world elite at the Kanalrennet in June. A few months later, he was just a millimeter away from winning the prestigious Klarälvsloppet roller ski race in Sweden.

This winter, Oskar Opstad Vike continued to impress his competitors, even at the senior level.

The previous weekend, he made headlines once more: The 20-year-old from Sandefjord dominated the World Cup sprint competition in Aure during Toppidrettsveka. He won the prologue, all his preliminary heats, and in the final, he beat Klæbo, Edvin Anger, and the rest of the world’s top sprinters once again.

“It was great that my body was in such good shape, and I’m pleased to have beaten Klæbo and his team again. These are people I’ve looked up to since I was young. Now I’m there myself, and I feel like I belong,” says Vike to Langrenn.com.

Also Read: Oskar Opstad Vike shines at the Toppidrettsveka sprint race

Experts are amazed by the young talent, considering him one of the biggest cross-country skiing talents in the world. Vike himself finds it amusing how the world elite and senior skiers make excuses when they are beaten.

“It’s fascinating how people comment after these races, with so many of the best saying how little it matters, that it’s summer and the important races are in winter. It’s almost like they talk more about how important it is not to win.”

“But I think they care more than they let on. None of them like to be beaten, whether it’s Klæbo, Edvin Anger, or anyone else. So, for me, I try to win these races. Even if I’m not in peak form, when I’m at the start line, I give it my all. Anything less would be lacking in competitive spirit.”

Vike also points out that, after all, the same people who win in winter also win in summer.

He is a shining example of this: Despite several periods of illness last winter, he secured his third consecutive junior NM gold in the sprint. At the senior NM in Beitostølen the following week, he won the prologue, quarterfinal, and semifinal, before eventually taking bronze in the final.

Now, Oskar Opstad Vike is preparing for his first senior season as part of the regional team Team Elon Oslofjord. After two years with Team Ragde Charge, he is putting long-distance races on hold to focus entirely on traditional cross-country skiing, the Olympics, and the World Championships.

“I want to excel in distance events as well, but the shortest route for me to get into the World Cup is through sprinting. That’s why I agreed with Magnar and Jørgen that Team Elon Oslofjord was the right step for me at this point in my career”, says Vike.

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Oskar Opstad Vike won the sprint during the Junior Norwegian National Championships in Granåsen last winter. It was his third straight NM gold in the race. Photo: Erik Borg/ Langrenn.com

Could Be the Next Klæbo: Norway’s Biggest Talent

Vike is incredibly fast, enduring, tactical, and strategic, excelling in both individual sprints and mass starts: According to several experts, coaches, competitors, and teammates, he is one of the biggest talents in Norwegian cross-country skiing.

“Oskar might be Norway’s greatest talent. He has some qualities that very few can match”, says Kasper Stadaas to Langrenn.com.

The 30-year-old, who finished second overall in the Ski Classics this winter, but previously focused on sprinting in the World Cup before going all in on long-distance with Team Ragde Charge, has been Vike’s roommate for the past two seasons.

“The way he moves, how he manages to generate power through his body and into the skis. And he has an unparalleled winner’s mentality”, says Stadaas.

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The same sentiment is shared by coaching legend Magnar Dalen from Team Ragde Charge, where Vike has been for the last two seasons.

“He has unique speed resources that allow him to accelerate from a very high speed to top speed extremely quickly”, says Dalen to Langrenn, adding:

“Oskar also possesses exceptional skills in skating. He could easily have become the next king of long-distance races, but it’s entirely understandable that he is focusing on sprinting and the World Cup now.”

Oskar Opstad Vike himself remains grounded. His goal for the coming season is primarily the U23 World Championships, but he is already aiming for the Olympics in the following season.

“I feel very relaxed. It’s just about attacking each race in the best way possible. As a first-year senior, I have the opportunity to come in and make an impact from below in all the races, and if I make some mistakes, it’s not a big deal.”

Watch the RAW CUT interview with Oskar Opstad Vike from the sports documentary Ski Classics Ski or Die: