It’s the Junior World Championship skier Erica Lavén, now competing for Åsarna, and her former club mate Carl Rune from Täby IS, who will start studying at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, USA, from August.

“I take it one year at a time, but it could easily become 3-4 years. I will study on the economics program,” says Carl, who has spent the last two years in Östersund studying there as well.

“It’s supposed to be great studying over there; I’ve heard many stories. I hope to develop as a skier and possibly qualify for the U23 World Championships next winter,” says the 21-year-old to Langd.se.

“I’ve always been curious about trying out the USA and started thinking about the possibility this winter. After attending the ski high school in Mora, I’ve spent two years in Östersund, but I’ve never been to Salt Lake City.”

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Likely, his father Peter Rune has had some influence. He studied at the same university alongside skiers like Domnarvets’ Stig Mattsson and Patrik Bauer. Fredrik Landstedt was part of the ski team at New Mexico before it closed, but he moved to Utah where he now coaches cross-country skiers.

Peter Rune argues that the long-distance efforts in the USA have an unfairly poor reputation in Sweden. Just look at Martin Bergström from Piteå Elit, who returned and was better than ever. He actually earned a place in the World Cup team after his time in Utah.

“Scandinavians hardly go to Utah now. I believe they have 7 men and 7 women in their cross-country team. My goal there will be to perform well in the American university championships,” says Carl Rune, who has a World Cup start in his career.

“It’s hard to say if I’ll miss anything from Sweden. It won’t be a whole year straight. Probably back home for Christmas and hopefully selections for the U23 World Championships, and during the summer, I’ll also be home.”

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Last winter, Carl Rune placed 15th in the Swedish Championship sprint in Boden, 18th in the 10 km classic, and 19th in the 20 km mass start in freestyle. He joined the Swedish Spel team in his first senior season in 2023, participating in the Livigno World Cup where he finished 48th in the sprint.

However, he earned silver in the Junior World Championship sprint in Åsarna in 2022, where he won the prologue. That year, he also competed in the Junior World Championships in Lygna, Norway, finishing 11th in the sprint. He also placed 8th in the senior Swedish Championship sprint in Skövde.

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Erica Lavén has competed in the Junior World Championships three times; she now competes for Åsarna IK. While Carl still represents Täby IS, Erica Lavén has switched to Åsarna IK. The 19-year-old (turning 20 on August 21) placed 6th in the Junior World Championship sprint in Planica last winter but was somewhat overshadowed by Evelina Crüsell during that championship.

However, she won the Junior Swedish Championship sprint and took silver in the 5 km classic in Östersund. She has competed in the Junior World Championships three times. In Whistler, Canada, in 2023, she finished 7th in the Junior World Championship sprint.

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