Everyone wants to push down whoever is at the top.

In order to avoid being knocked down, the double Vasalopp winner, Lina Korsgren has taken advantage of new technology. Now in the summer, she goes roller skating and stakes around the roads in Falun. In her hand she has a special handle that measures the effect in the strikes. It is a handle that can be mounted on any rod.

- The handle is a bit thicker than a regular handle, but I just see it as an advantage because then you do not have to hug the rod as hard, says Lina Korsgren to SVT Sport.

Power is referred to as watts. And the inspiration to start measuring power in the pole tags comes from cycling. Measuring power is something that has been done for a long time and meticulously within the particular cycle.

From the bike sport and into the ski sport now comes coach Mattias Reck. His goal is to get more power out of Korsgren and some other elite skiers in cross-country skiing.

- It's definitely harder to work with skis than by bike. In a bicycle everyone is stuck in the pedal so it is not as much technology. But I am an expert on endurance and cannot ski myself, it can be good to say. Lol. I am very impressed with Lina myself. What power and timing she has, Reck tells SVT Sport.

Swedish student project

The product was developed by some former students at Chalmers University.

The handle sends data, via Bluetooth, to a software that is then analyzed on a computer or mobile phone. Reck is a seasoned trainer in cycling but beginner in cross-country skiing and therefore he is still learning to analyze the information together with one of the founders of the product.

- Skilled riders can really use the stick when it goes fast, because then you have very little time to create power. In a sprint settlement, when the rider has put in the biggest gear, we can see the difference between those who can ride really fast and those who travel quite fast, Reck says.

The graphs that are read indicate power curves for the time the rod is in the ground. The collaboration between Korsgren and Reck is in its infancy, so it is too early to comment on concrete results yet. But Reck sees results with the cross-country skiers he has worked with for a long time. Max Novak made a success in the ski track this season and won the youth cup in the long-running Ski Classics World Cup. It is precisely Novak who has been the gateway to cross-country skiing.

- I got into this via Max Novak who listened to me when I gave a lecture. He then wondered if you could not apply this also in skiing. I was hesitant from the start but gave in to me. Then he had a successful season. It gave rings on the water, says Reck.

The effect of the handle is tested among elite riders

The handle is currently only in use for a limited number of people and riders. But Korsgren absolutely believes that this is not just something for her as an elite rider.

- It is a very good training tool. I know that many elite and physical engineers use the stacker very much. So many are familiar with Watt and want to run higher and higher Watt. If you could get it out in the ski track too, I think many would go on, ”concludes Lina Korsgren.