Swedish veterans headline 2017-18 national team

Sixteen men and 15 women have been chosen to represent Sweden at the highest level for the 2017-18 season. The division of the training groups is meant to give the skiers the focus and direction they need to perform at their best, whether it be on the World Cup, European Cup or in FIS races.

This year’s coaching staff features a few changes including the hiring of Per Jonsson to support the women’s speed group and Stefano Casalino who will support the men’s tech training group.

“Per comes from Uppsala Ski School,” said alpine director Tommy Eliasson Winter. “He is a coach who has come a long way as a youth coach and also as a high school coach. Stefano is an Italian coach who most recently the Canadian national team and has good knowledge in engineering branches for our younger skiers.”

This year’s squad is not fully formed yet as further training groups will be determined May 9. This is something that Winter sees as an investment in the future, which is in line with the federation’s vision for results in all disciplines.

“The whole feeling is that we broaden speed part quite clearly,” he said. “…This year we have a much bigger squad than we had in previous years.”

The renewed investment in speed is a long-term project.

“Speed ​​investment allows us to see the results in the longer term,” said  Lars Melin, head coach of women’s team. “It is not necessarily for the season to come, but rather several years. The plan is that we want to try to start with two ladies in most speed races of the World Cup. Previously, Kajsa riding around and trained a lot on their own, but this year they will largely work out together.”

That said, the coaches also looked at major upcoming events like the Winter Olympic Games when putting together these training groups.

“For the coming season, I see Matt, André and Mattias Hargin as our medal hopes,” said Heinzpeter Platter, head coach of the men’s team. “At the same time, we are building for the future with the new generation and therefore, we’ll have Kristoffer, Mattias and Gustav train with the best, and I hope that they come in and learn from the older ones.”

Men’s Tech Training Group 1
André Myhrer, Bergsjoe Hassela Alpina
Mattias Hargin, Huddinge SK,
Matts Olsson, Valfjaellet SLK,
Mattias Roenngren, Are SLK,
Gustav Lundbäck, Lulea AK,
Kristoffer Jakobsen, Storklintens AK Skalp

Men’s Tech Training Group 2
Max-Gordon Sundquist, Ostersund SLK
Anthon Cassman, Ostersund SLK
Emil Johansson, SK Vitesse
Hannes Grim, Storklintens AK Skalp
Jesper Ask, IFK Arvidsjaur AK
Dan-Axel Grahn, Ostersund SLK

Men’s Tech/Speed Training Group
Felix Monsen, Are SLK
Zack Monsen, Are SLK
Filip Platter, Are SLK
Olle Sundin, Djurgårdens IF AF.

Ladies Tech Training Group 1
Frida Hansdotter, Norberg SLK
Maria Pietilae Holmner, UHSK Umeå SK
Emelie Wikstroem, IFK Sävsjö
Anna Swenn-Larsson, Rättviks SLK

Ladies Tech Training Group 2
Sara Hector, Kungsbergets AK
Nathalie Eklund, Leksand SLK
Ylva Stålnacke, Kiruna BK
Lisa Blomqvist, UHSK Umeå SK
Lovisa Grant, IFK Lidingoe SLK
Magdalena Fjaellstroem, Fjaellvinden.

Ladies Speed Training Group
Kajsa Kling, Are SLK
Lisa Hörnblad, High Coast Alpine
Helena Rapaport, Mälaröarnas Alpina SK
Lin Ivarsson, Are SLK
Fanny Axelsson, IFK Mora AK

Release from Sweden Ski Association