Hilde is 43 years old and has a long career as a skier to look back to. However, she is not only looking back she is still active even though not as focused as she was a few years ago. But she did take an Olympic bronze medal as late as 2 years ago in Turino.
Hilde arrived in Beijing together with her family and the other European skiers on Saturday, and has since then been running on the great wall and on the streets of Beijing, visited the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, and spent hours at the markets
for shopping. Tonight all the skiers are leaving for Changchun, where they will try the cross country tracks for Lidingoloppet China that will take place in mid June. And on Thursday they continue towards Changbai Mountain where the actual ski sprint competition will take place next weekend. We met Hilde over a delicious pasta dinner in Beijing yesterday…
What is the best thing with being a professional skier?
To get opportunities like this, travel to China for a ski competition!
How many hours per week are you training?
Now I am training around 300-400 hours/year, but when I was younger and even more active I was training around 650 hours/year. I have never been the person that have been training the most, I always tried to vary my training and make it more effective instead, and that has been very successful for me.
What are you training when you are not skiing?
I do a lot of roller skiing, and a lot of biking as well.
How old were you when you got your first skis?
10 years old, and that was when I started to compete, then at 20 I became a mum and had a break for a couple of years. Then in 1990 I began with Ski orienteering, but in 1998 I made a comeback within Skiing again which continued until 2006. Since then I have been winding down a little bit but am still active.
What would you do if you were not a professional skier?
That is what I am trying to figure out, I’ve never been working for real. But I think I would like to continue with something related to skiing, such as selling ski wear or work as a motivator for younger skiers etc. I know the branch and have good experience.
What sport would you practice if XC skis did not exist?
I think that would be orienteering.
What was your first impression of China, when you first arrived here?
Many people! (she says and smiles)
Beijing is a very interesting and exciting place, I went here without any expectations, I did not know much about China. But the impressions I’ve got so far is only positive.
Which is your best ski-memory?
Ooo, I have so many good memories…but one of them is of course the Olympic bronze medal in Turino, but I also remember very well when I won the relay in Obersdorf 2005.
And of course another very good memory is when I won the ski relay in the Norwegian Championships (NM) together with my twin daughters in 2006.
For how long are you continuing as an elite skier?
As long as I think it is fun and as long as I believe I can make good results. But I will probably always continue with skiing, for me it is more of a life-style.
What are your tips for young skiers to succeed?
Vary your training and make it effective rather than exaggerate the hours!
Who will win this weekend?
Very hard to say, there are many good skiers here! Sprint is maybe not my favorite, I am more of a long distance skier, but I will do my best.
You came here with your two daughters that will also take part in the ski sprint…will you beat them in the ski sprint?
I hope so! =)