Things are going downhill for Sandra Näslund. Faster than for most. And that's as good as it gets. In mid-March 2017, the 20-year-old from Kramfors won the World Ski Cross Championship gold and 2018 is her second Olympics in her career. Between seasons... she trains.
Sandra Näslund
Ihad it a little calmer in April, even though I was skiing almost every day. Then the camps and physical training for the winter began. And skiing almost every day, quite naturally means that the stays in Kramfors will be quite few.
"Yes, they are easy to count in a year. I basically live in a suitcase. When I'm not abroad, I'm mostly in Tärnaby. But Kramfors and the High Coast are still home to me." When Sandra thinks of Kramfors, it's usually about nature and the proximity to the sea.
"In other countries, few people know where Kramfors is located, but if I say High Coast, most people usually nod in recognition," she laughs. In 2014, she was the youngest Swedish participant in the Sochi Olympics and came sensationally fifth. Next year in Pyeongchang, South Korea, she will most likely be one of the big favorites. This after last winter's World Cup gold and second place in the overall World Cup.
"I'm prepared to have the pressure on me to win and it will feel nervous, but on the other hand, it always does before all competitions. I see it mostly as positive that people believe in me. My own demands on myself have also increased. I'm not satisfied with a top 10 finish when I know I have the capacity to win.
My goal has long been to be number one in the world. Already when I did my first ski cross runs in Latbergsbacken, that thought started to grow strong.
Ski cross is a fast-paced and risky sport, and last winter Sandra's national teammate Anna Holmlund crashed badly and is still being treated in hospital. An accident that has affected Sandra a lot.
"I think I've been able to handle it well and have been able to focus on what I have to do, even though I've realized even more now that it can go really bad if you're unlucky. It's very sad and hard not to train with Anna and fight with her for podiums. Anna is not only a good skier but also a very good friend. I really hope it will go well for her.
In the past, there were two Swedish world stars on the women's side in ski cross. Without Anna, Sandra has had all the light on her. She suffered a severe cruciate ligament injury in January 2015, but after a number of months of rehabilitation, she was back on the slopes. Since then, she has been better than ever.
"My goal has long been to be number one in the world. Already when I did my first ski cross runs in Latbergsbacken, that thought began to grow strong.
Sandra Näslund has become one of the biggest names in alpine skiing. Made in Kramfors and with a heart that beats for the High Coast.
