Idag rullskidor Sandvika-Åre med målgång uppe på ullådalsbacken.
The world’s leading long distance cross country ski team, Team Exspirit, keeps improving their team by signing the 31 year old Norwegian skier Roger Aa Djupvik. Roger did a very strong finish of the Ski Classics season last year placing second at Birkebeinerrennet and fifth at the Ski Classics Final, where he for a long time alone chased the leader Anders Aukland. He also has good results from the World Cup with the Norwegian national team.
– Roger has been chased by several teams and I am very happy that we could sign him for Team Exspirit, says Exspirit Team Director David Nilsson and continues. We will have very strong team with the three new Norwegian skiers Roger, Espen Harald and Morten who complements the rest of our skiers in a very good way. Now we can barely wait for the season to start, even if we probably will see some more news around the team before the first race in Jizerska.
Roger grew up in Hyen and lives in Lillehammer with his wife May-Britt and their son Markus. He hass been skiing for Lillehammer Ski Club and Team Birken and getting ready for the next season it is full focus at long distance skiing.
– I am very happy with the opportunity to join and be a part of Team Exspirit. This will be my first season only focusing on long distance skiing and I get great opportunities to perform at the highest level with Team Exspirit. It is a professional team who contains a lot of experience in long distance racing together with strong athletes. All athletes have their own speciality and I am sure we will race for the victories in Ski Classics.
Right now Team Exspirit is all together in Åre, Sweden, and it is Roger’s first camp with the team.
– We have had a very good camp here. Everyone takes part and pushes each other to become faster and stronger. At the same time we have a lot of fun. The service team makes a great job making sure we only need to focus on training in the tough hills both roller skiing and running around Åre.
Also team captain Oskar Svärd is happy with the three new Norwegians.
– We will take another step as a team and the Norwegian skiers complement the rest of the athletes very well, especially in the races with hard climbs. We have been second two times in a row in the Ski Classics Team competition and I think it is about time we take it all the way. We have had a great atmosphere in Åre and you can tell the Norwegians perform at the highest level, says Oskar.
Signing Roger is part of a cooperation between Team Exspirit and Lillehammer Ski Club.
– Lillehammer Ski Club is very happy about the collaboration with one of the best long distance teams in the world. Young club skiers get the opportunity to compete at a international level with support from a professional team and can only focus on long distance skiing. The elite group at Lillehammer Ski Club, Team Birken, will now only focus at talent development and traditional racing. It’s a unique collaboration in cross country skiing between a club and one of the best teams. It gives the club the possibility to offer a complete solution for promising skiers. We’re excited about the coming winter and the development of the collaboration with Team Exspirit, says Managing Director, Jostein Buraas, Lillehammer Ski Club.
