It was in May last spring that three of Sweden's biggest ski stars announced that they no longer wanted to train under the auspices of the national team. Instead, they would bet against the World Cup in Planica with their own set-up.

"I'm really happy with my year, I've probably had my strongest season so far. Then you don't know what it would have been like if I had been on the team. But I have stood for what I believe in and really got to follow my own path and I am proud of that, says Frida Karlsson to SVT Sport.

"The goal is to be part of a functioning national team"

But for some time now, the national team has been in dialogue with the trio, with the hope that they will return to blue and yellow.

"The goal for me is to be part of a functioning national team, where it works 100 percent, as I have always dreamed of being. I am satisfied that I did what I did and dared to do what I fully believe in. At the same time, I hope that there will be a change and that we will be back this year, says Maja Dahlqvist.

What does it take for you to come back?

"A change is needed, and I know it's up for discussion now what we girls think and want. So I think it's going to get better and we have a chance to make an impact now.

What do you want to influence and change?

"It's quite complicated to stand and take this anyway, I think we'll have to take that internally first. But that's the big picture on a lot of things.

The hope: "Best possible national team in the world"

Frida Karlsson also does not want to go into exactly what requirements the trio wants to get through.

"We have discussions, I'm really happy to see how I want it to be in the team and influence what I can," she says.

National team manager Anders Byström believes that the dialogue with the breakaways is good and that the national team has taken on board their feedback, but there is still some work to be done.

"There are some things we're going to hone in on in the team as well that make it even more attractive for them to come back," he says.

"We want the best possible national team in the world, and we have that if everyone is involved.