The Double-Pole Phantom Is Ready For The Chinese Vasaloppet

FasterSkier · January 2, 2004

Norwegian Jorgen Aukland is labeled The Double-Pole Phantom in the European Press.
He is the (younger) brother of Anders Aukland, a famous member of the Norwegian National Team, 2002 Olympian and 2003 Relay World Champion. Anders won a World Cup race in November, but this is when the season (really) starts for Jorgen and the other members of the Norwegian Long-Distance Team.

There has only been held one race so far in the FIS Marathon World Cup. That was a skate race and was not the priority of the Norwegian Team. There are numerous classic races on the upcoming agenda. That’s where they are planning on doing well. Every race until now has been viewed as training.

Jorgen is currently in China getting ready for the Chinese Vasaloppet this weekend (Saturday). He will race five marathons during the next six-week period – all of them in classical technique. He will also have to deal with the time-change from China back to Europe.

Jorgen:
“I have trained well up until now. The upcoming races will dominate my skiing for the upcoming month. I can train well for one month before my main goal, the Swedish Vasaloppet”.

“I would not have traveled to China if the Swedish Vasaloppet was the following weekend. It isn’t and I decided to do it”

He knows that going to China is risky considering the upcoming schedule.
“It’s important to view it as positive. I once lived in the USA for a year and have good experience traveling across time zones”

Aukland showed earlier this season that he is in good shape in skating as well. He placed 7th in a big domestic Norwegian race and 17th in La Sgambeda – the first race in the Marathon World Cup. That’s promising regarding the upcoming classic races since he has hardly trained skating at all this summer and fall.

“I had a hip injury this fall and was uncertain how things would function and work out. It now feels like the injury is gone and I feel like I’m in good shape. It’s not much I can do now regarding training – it’s all racing and recovery training for six weeks”.

“The cards are dealt – now let’s see” – says The Double Pole Phantom.

Editor: Jorgen Aukland today won the Chinese 50 km Vasaloppet in Peking, China in a sprint for the finish, one second ahead of Stanislav Rezack og Oskar SvÃ¤rd.