Cross-country skiing: Moa Ilar to spring a surprise?
With the world cross-country skiing championships in Trondheim (Norway) just around the corner, Moa Ilar is taking it all in her stride. Currently in training at Bruksvallarna (Sweden), the Swedish cross-country skier is taking the opportunity to prepare in the best possible way.
“I’m feeling pretty good. The course is great fun. I’m relaxed and enjoying the moment just before the start of the World Championships,” she tells Nordic Magazine. I hope that if I’m in really good shape and have a good mental attitude, I’ll end up with a medal. I just want to ski my best.
However, in Falun (Sweden), it wasn’t an ideal weekend for her. Although she was racing at home – she is a member of Falun-Borlänge SK and hails from Vansbro (Sweden), 100 kilometres to the west – the 27-year-old cross-country skier finished twelfth in the individual classic and twenty-third in the mass start skate.
“It’s always a pleasure to run in Falun, there are lots of people I know along the track. I was a bit ill the week before, so I think the 10km classic went pretty well. Then on Sunday I had problems with my skis, so it was a really difficult day. But my body felt fine, that’s what I’ll remember.
Although she has often finished around tenth this season without finishing in the top five, she remains motivated and wants to fight for the podium: “I certainly miss the podium, but anything can happen in a world championship. We’ve already seen some surprises.”
Moa Ilar has one World Cup success to her name, achieved last season in Ruka (Finland) over a 20-kilometre mass-start skate. She is therefore approaching these World Championships with ambition and the desire to create a surprise.
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