SWIX SKI CLASSICS. "I will try to break the course record on Sunday!" Vibeke Skofterud, Team NPRO, is going for the victory in 50 K long Jizerska Padesatka, the first race of the season in Swix Ski Classics. The popular Norwegian skier was one of many celebrities attending the press conference in Bedrichov, Czech Republic on Friday. Skofterud also said that the hilly course in the Jizera Mountains fits her well, even better than Vasaloppet, where she broke the course record last year.

Skofterud has to ski fast to win, since the women’s field of Jizerska Padesatka is probably better than ever. Other favorites are Team Coop’s Jenny Hansson (Swix Ski Classics Champion 2012), Stephanie Santer (iXmind Racing Team), Seraina Boner (Team Coop), Valentina Shevchenko (iXmind Racing Team) and Sandra Hansson (Team Olso Sportlager/Moelven), just to name a few. The rumor also says that the Finish former world champion Aina-Kaisa Saarinen will start on Sunday.

Also the men’s field in the Jizerska Padesatka looks exceptionally strong. Swix Ski Classics champion 2012, Anders Aukland (Team Xtra Personell), has won the race before and he will of course try to defend his yellow bib as overall leader of the long distance series. One of his major antagonists, Stanislav Rezac, has just recently switched team before this race.

– He and his previous team (iXmind Racing Team) couldn’t get along, so now he will ski in our beautiful Team Xtra Personell suit, Nils Marius Otterstad proudly said at the press conference.

There are several skiers that can win the race on Sunday. Other long distance specialists such as Jörgen Brink (Team United Bakeries), Jørgen Aukland (Team Xtra Personell) and Jimmie Johnsson (Team Coop) will have to beat more “short distance” athletes such as Anders Södergren (Team United Bakeries), Eldar Rønning (Team United Bakeries) and Lukas Bauer (Team Coop).

Jizerska Padesatka starts at 9.00 AM CET on Sunday.

Swix Ski Classics
www.skiclassics.com
January 11th, 2013

Swix Ski Classics is the long distance ski championships, consisting of six of the most prestigious ski events in the world: Jizerská Padesatká in Czech Republic, Marcialonga in Italy, König Ludwig Lauf in Germany, Vasaloppet in Sweden, Birkebeinerrennet in Norway and the Swix Ski Classics Final in Sweden (venue to be announces shortly), all 50 km or more and open for professional as well as amateur skiers.
 
Swix Ski Classics 2013:
Event 1:  Jizerská Padesatká       Czech Republic      January 13th, 2013
Event 2:  Marcialonga                   Italy                        January, 27th, 2013
Event 3:  König Ludwig Lauf         Germany                February 3rd, 2013
Event 4:  Vasaloppet                     Sweden                  March 3rd, 2013
Event 5:  Birkebeinerrennet           Norway                  March 16th, 2013
Event 6:  Swix Ski Classics Final   Sweden                 March 23rd, 2013