Thanks the Swede for the victory

Traditional skiing

Thanks the Swede for the victory

by Ingeborg Scheve/Leandro Lutz • 22.11.2024

Member Article

Photo: Marius Simensen/BILDBYRÅN

Ane Appelkvist Stenseth, who was left out of the Norwegian national team, dominated the field in the sprint at Beitostølen but gives her Swedish rival much of the credit for her success.

“I’ve felt it in training all autumn, but it’s very satisfying to get confirmation here. It’s one thing to see it in training but achieving it in competition is another matter. It feels great to just charge ahead from the start,” said a relieved and happy Ane Appelkvist Stenseth after her victory in the classic sprint at Beitostølen on Friday afternoon.

Now, she credits her Swedish rival, Maja Dahlqvist, for the win. The two have trained together for nearly every session since Dahlqvist moved to Trondheim before the dryland training season.

“I’ve trained a lot with Maja. We’ve spent almost every minute together when we’ve both been in Trondheim. It’s been golden, but even more so because we’ve been a great match socially. We’ve had so much fun this autumn, and she’s become a very good friend. That might mean even more,” Stenseth told ProXCskiing.com’s sister site Langrenn.com, adding:

“We’ve pushed each other really well. We’re quite similar as athletes, so we share many of the same priorities in training. It’s been easy to plan sessions so that we can train together a lot. For me, it’s been so beneficial that I’ve started planning my trips away from Trondheim based on when Maja is away at camps.”

But when winter comes, they will still be rivals.

“When we compete, it’s no different than before. The goal is to cross the finish line first, regardless of the nation you represent,” said Stenseth.

Now, Stenseth hopes to secure a spot for the World Cup opener in Ruka next weekend.

“I’ve been a whole week without Maja now. So, if I get to go to Ruka, I’ll head there.”

“Turned Every Stone”

Being left off the Norwegian national team in April didn’t come as a shock to Ane Appelkvist Stenseth. Once the decision was final, Stenseth was ready for a reset.

She assembled her own private training team, which includes no fewer than three coaches: her partner Jørgen Ulvang, who is also Team Engcon Pro Team Director; Stig Rune Kveen, who left the national team this spring after two seasons as a coach for the women’s team; and Per Øyvind Torvik in Meråker. They have overhauled her training in several areas.

Stenseth has also been working with mental coach Tom Henning Øvrebø for a long time.

“We’ve also cracked some codes this year on how to prepare for competitions and important sessions. But the biggest breakthrough this year has been in training,” she said and added:

“We’ve turned over every stone to figure out the biggest challenges of recent years and set up a program tailored for me. It’s been a luxury.”

Stenseth highlighted that, in her opinion, the national team had focused too much on capacity and volume in recent years. Sprint skiing has evolved, demanding more specialization and explosiveness. This shift requires sprinters to train more specifically than before.

“For me, it’s important to focus on my strengths. This year, I’ve concentrated more on what I face in competitions. It’s about lactate thresholds, tempo shifts, and training more explosively. I’ve done higher-speed threshold work and structured intervals differently,” said Ane Appelkvist Stenseth.

“It’s been about finding myself again, and that’s easier when you only have yourself to answer to. I’ve been a bit lost over the last three years, so it’s great to get some positive answers now. I’ve found peace, and Stig Rune and Jørgen are incredible at building my confidence with every session.”

Beitostølen Premiere

Beitostølen, Norway, is the place for one of the first traditional cross-country skiing races this 2024/2025 winter and the Norwegian premiere. The event weekend started on Friday, November 22, with a 1.3km sprint race in classic technique. On Saturday, November 23, a 10km classic technique event awaits. On Sunday, November 24, the weekend ends with another 10km race, now in the freestyle technique.