The Swedish cross-country skier started last World Cup season by winning the sprint in Ruka and Lillehammer. Now, Emma Ribom is heading into a new racing season.

“I don’t need to have World champion form in Gällivare. But those races set the standard for where I stand before the season,” says Emma Ribom.

Emma Ribom had a solid start to last year’s winter. She won the sprint during the premiere in Bruksvallarna and followed that by taking both her first and second individual wins in the World Cup when she won both the classic sprint in Ruka and the freestyle sprint in Lillehammer:

“It was a huge step in my career to win my first World Cup race in Ruka. During the dryland season, I felt that my body had responded well, but getting out there with a bib number is something else. And that start made me feel that if I play my cards right, I can ‘fight for it’ at the World Cup, ” says Ribom.

And it turned out to be a correct analysis. After that, she went home with three medals from the World Championships. There was one medal of each metal (gold in the sprint relay, silver in the individual sprint, and bronze in the relay).

Is the medal collection already complete?

“Haha, yes, it is. Of course, I feel a certain pride when I reflect on the World Championships and how I approached it.”

Where are the medals?

“They are at home,” says Ribom when Langd.se met her at the national team’s media days in Stockholm a month ago.

Which areas have you worked on during this dryland season?

“I have continued to work on what I did last season. Then was the first time I focused my training on my sprinting abilities. I saw a clear development there, and it is something that I can and will build on. And those parts also fit well at distance. Then I can take steps in terms of capacity, and that is something I have worked on,” says Ribom and adds:

“I had really good months from May to July, where I felt good progression, then I had some problems with illness in August and September where I didn’t get the continuity in training that I wanted,” says Ribom, who has her best results as a sprinter.

But she also maintains a high standard at distance. Last season, she was fifth in the 20-kilometer race at the World Cup in Les Rousses, France, and got to start the 30km race at the World Championships in Planica (where she finished 19th).

Next season, there are no major championships on the calendar:

Doing a full World Cup season will be nice. I have prioritized and put all my cards in the same basket in previous seasons to optimize towards the championship. This has meant that I have missed a lot of races. Now I look forward to racing a lot,” says Ribom.

First up are the competitions in Gällivare:

“I do not need World champion form, but I want to feel good, not least technically, that I can build on towards the World Cup. Then it is a security to get into the competition feeling and routines,” concludes Ribom.

See the complete program for the Swedish season premiere at the end of the article.

Gällivare Premiere, Sprint Race – 16.11.2023

8:45 CET: 1.4km Sprint Quali C, Women
9:15 CET: 1.4km Sprint Quali C, Men
11:20 CET: 1.4km Sprint Final C, Women
11:50 CET: 1.4km Sprint Final C, Men 

Start Lists can be found HERE.

More information can be found HERE.

Gällivare Premiere 

The Swedish FIS season premiere in Gällivare is known for drawing a large and solid field of athletes. For many elite cross-country skiers, these races are an essential performance indicator for the World Cup in Ruka and a good thermometer for the winter.

The program in Sweden will take place from Friday, November 17, to Sunday, November 19. The program includes a classic sprint on Friday, a 10km classic on Saturday, and a 10km freestyle on Sunday, all with individual starts. The race weekend at Gällivare runs parallel to the Swedish season premiere in Beitostølen.

FACTS: Gällivare Season Premiere 

Who: Senior men and women
What: Classic sprint, 10km classic, and 10km freestyle (both with individual starts)
Where: Gällivare, Sweden
When: November 17 to 19, 2023

Events Program

Friday, November 17 

8:45 CET: 1.4km Sprint Quali C, Women
9:15 CET: 1.4km Sprint Quali C, Men
11:20 CET: 1.4km Sprint Final C, Women
11:50 CET: 1.4km Sprint Final C, Men 

More information can be found HERE.

Saturday, November 18

11:05 CET: 10km Interval C, Men
12:05 CET: 10km Interval C, Women

More information can be found HERE.

Sunday, November 19 

10:50 CET: 10km Interval F, Men
12:05 CET: 10km Interval F, Women

More information can be found HERE. 

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