Anna Haag says she has never been in a better shape. Charlotte Kalla said to Expressen the same. What a season it can be for the two.
According to Expressen, the "secret tests" carried out in Östersund shown that Olympic champion Charlotte Kalla has better results than ever before. The same should apply to Anna Haag. "I have never felt better"confirms Anna Haag to the Swedish newspaper Expressen. And Charlotte Kalla? "She is unique" says H-C Holmberg, director of research at Winter Sports Centre.
Top test results
Swedish quad's annual tests at the National Winter Sports Centre in Östersund reveal how training has gone and how to form the molecular level. Test results are always just an indication of performance and shape. It is not automatically so that the faster you ski the better resuts you get. "I can say it went very well. Although the tests were made a month earlier than last year, I already have the same values as back then. So I have never been better" says Anna Haag in Expressen. How tough was it? "Pretty tough" she admitted.
Charlotte Kalla rules
When Anna Hague's test results were good, Charlotte Kalla's were even better. Charlotte shocked staff at the Winter Sports Centre in the past. Three years ago she was recorded to have the highest value of oxygen uptake ever for a Swedish woman. "Charlotte was high, even now. She is still stable in her old values" said ladies' coach Rickard Grip to Expressen. Can you reach higher results? "No, that's it. In her case, it is about learning to use the maximum capacity the best way. To ski more economically, to be as close up as possible without incurring lactic acid" explained Grip.
Experts speechless
H-C Holmberg is research director at Winter Sports Centre and has been following test development closely for many years. "I do not really know what words I should use to describe her. Extreme? Exceptional? She is simply unique. She has one of the highest values we measured in this country. And even internationally she is very, very high " says Mr. Holmberg to Expressen.
Contributed by Kjell Erik Kristiansen, langd.se
