Tove Ericsson, currently in Hudiksvalls IF, has enjoyed success as a junior. She has, among other things, medals from the Junior World Championships in her luggage and as recently as last winter she was fourth in the Swedish Championship three-mile and beat several World Cup skiers. She also has a bronze medal from the Youth Olympics.
She has been seen as a big future name for Swedish cross-country skiing, this winter she will become a senior and now chooses to focus fully on Ski Classics in Team Engcon next season.
"I thought back and forth for quite a long time and I think that doing this one year will be challenging and developing, also for trad (traditional skiing) in the future," Ericsson told SVT Sport.
Is the plan to run for a year or is there a longer-term plan?
"Right now I'm thinking I'll do it for a year and then go trad.
Last winter she made her debut in Ski Classics, and at a race in Orsa Grönklitt and finished directly on the podium.
Becomes teammate with Ida Dahl
Ericsson also says that even if the investment is currently only over the coming season, she will invest wholeheartedly in the long-distance races.
She will now be teammates with Ida Dahl, the overall winner of the long-distance race cup last season.
– It's super fun, she can participate in many sessions this summer and challenge and make me better too, says Ida Dahl to SVT Sport.
Do you think it is becoming more common for young skiers to switch to Ski Classics from traditional cross-country skiing?
"I get the feeling that more people are opening their eyes to it, that you can do both, and that it's not either or," says Dahl.