In the World Cup premiere in Ruka, Frida Karlsson won the 10 kilometer classical with a 46-second margin down to second-place Therese Johaug. In Les Rousses at the end of January, she was even more superior when she won a mass start, 20 kilometers classical, with a one-and-a-half-minute lead.
The two performances left Johan Olsson in awe. The former Swedish national team star, now an expert commentator for Viaplay, has not experienced anything like it.
I was standing by the track in Ruka when I saw Frida's first victory. And when I saw her skiing past just two meters away, and then saw all the others, Johaug, Ebba Andersson and the whole gang... she was completely superior. It was as if Frida was skiing in a different environment than the others, says Johan Olsson.
"Skied like a guy"
He compares it to the men's side. Olsson says that the men ski with a higher speed, which allows them to use a different type of technique that makes the uphills feel "flatter" than they do for the women.
Frida Karlsson is the exception. That's why Olsson sees Tuesday's 10-kilometer race in Trondheim as Karlsson's biggest gold chance in the World Championship.
The uphills feel "steeper" for the women, who therefore have to shorten their stride much more. But when I saw Frida, she skied just like the guys ski. Instead of sitting and running up the hill, Frida skied like a guy up the hills, she skied in a completely different way than the others. There's no one who has been able to do it that way before.
Extra pole training
Karlsson missed a medal in Sunday's skiathlon, but she thinks she knows why. Being a bit too tight with the pole grip made her unable to ski relaxed on the classical part, which led to her losing contact with the leaders.
Now she will be more careful with that part, and at the same time gather strength from her two dominant victories.
Just in classical, I've developed my pole technique a lot and focused on that. In the two races, I've really found the right feeling. Everything just clicked. It's been like a dance or something. It's been energy-efficient, relaxed and paid off well, says Frida Karlsson.
That's the skiing I know I have in me, so that's what I'll try to get out.
