The Norwegian cross-country skier Anne Kjersti Kalvå opens about the altitude project leading to gold at the World Championships in Norway and about Johaug’s comeback in 2025.

Anne Kjersti Kalvå had her breakthrough season last winter when she took home three medals from the 2023 World Championships in Planica: gold in the relay, silver in the team sprint, and the 30km race. She ended the season with her first individual World Cup victory in the 20-kilometer race in Lahti, which was the last World Cup race of the season, one of four individual podiums in the World Cup. 

Also Read: Anne Kjersti Kalvå wins the 20km mass start race at the World Cup in Lahti.

Kalvå’s overall goal is now the 2025 World Championships in Trondheim, Norway, and is raising the bar even higher this year. The World Championships will be held in Granåsen, practically her backyard. 

“I have higher expectations of myself now,” says the 32-year-old, convinced she can still improve. 

Read More: Altitude training and friendship – Anne Kjersti Kalvå sets sights on World Championships gold.

More training hours and more altitude training

With the World Championships on home soil as her main goal, Kalvå has taken several steps in her training. 

In the run-up to the World Championships in just under a year and a half, she will increase the number of training hours. In particular, the number of training hours at altitude. Both this season and in the run-up to the World Championships, she plans to spend up to 120 days at altitude. 

By comparison, Petter Northug spent around 100 to 115 days at altitude at the peak of his World Cup career. 

“I react very well to altitude training,” Kalvå tells Fondo Italia. 

For this reason, she also runs her altitude training sessions in addition to those organized by the Norwegian National Team. 

For Kalvå, it’s not just the physiological response to altitude training but the whole altitude training experience that provides the most significant training benefits.

“I train very well when I’m at altitude. I’m very careful and do everything right; I train, sleep, and eat for a few weeks. And I’m sure that has been crucial to my performance over the last two seasons,” she says. 

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The coaches have a crucial role

At the same time, Kalvå quickly highlights the coaches’ job in motivating and inspiring the skiers to perform at their best in good and bad times. 

“Sometimes it can mean pushing the limits a little too far like I did at Toppidrettsveka this year. And then they are good at helping us get back on track. They take care of us, and my communication with them has done a lot for me and the other girls on the team,” she says. 

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What are your goals and ambitions for the coming season? 

“I have higher expectations of myself now, as do the media and those around me. My goal for this season is to do a lot of races, and maybe I can be right up there fighting for the overall victory. But this season’s main goal is to be consistently good, have a good body, and stay healthy. But I hope to be right up there and fight for podiums,” she says to Langrenn.com. 

What does Trondheim 2025 mean to you? 

“It means everything. It’s my home ground, I live there. It’s been a dream since I heard Trondheim got the 2025 World Championships. Now, I’m in my prime and in the best shape I’ve ever been in. So, I can fight for medals there. And I’m extremely keen to win a World Championship gold there. I will train and prepare as best I can for that.” 

Do you think Therese Johaug will return at the 2025 World Championships? 

“If she wants to, she will. But I’m not sure. My feeling is that she wants to focus on her family life. But if she goes there, she’ll be good.”