Jorgen Aukland, last year’s Vasaloppet Champion, had a tough start to the training season. Despite being exhausted from a long racing season, the decorated marathon skier is already at a higher level now than he was at the same time of a year last season.
After many races and a long season, Jorgen Aukland took almost the whole month of April off to rest. On May 1st, along with other elite skiers, he pushed his body back into training and since then has had his best start to the training season ever in his long racing career.
“I was completely exhausted in the month of April. I barely trained the whole month after a tough season with lots or travel and racing. I was spending a lot of energy all winter with little rest, and after my last race the balloon popped. It was nice to take it easy in April, I really needed it,†says Jorgen to langrenn.com
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<p>Aukland won his first Vasaloppet last March, arguably the biggest ski race in the Nordic world, as well as performing well in many of the FIS Marathon Cup races. Now he is preparing for another strong season with his teammates in the private professional race team Xtra Personall, based in northern Norway. His teammates are none other than Jens Arne Svartedal and older brother Anders Aukland, two of the best classic skiers on the international scene.</p>
<p>“My legs started to feel good again in the beginning of May, and since then things on the training side have gone really well. I feel already that I am at a higher level than I was last year, and that promises good things to come,†Jorgen explains.</p>
<p>After almost a flawless season last year, Aukland hasn’t changed much in his training program. Together with older brother Anders and younger brother Fredrik (now National Team Coach for Switzerland) Jorgen has put together a comprehensive but similar plan from May until the snow falls.</p>
<p>“We learned a lot last year and will continue with the training that has worked. The overall structure is the same with just some minor adjustments. Together, we have a lot of experience with the training we are doing now. If we complete what we have planned, next season should be phenomenal!â€</p>
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