Idre Fjall hosts back-to-back SX competitions

We are back in Europe, in Idre Fjäll, Sweden, to be precise, for the very last pair of races before the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

Although it was quite the journey to come from Nakiska, Canada, here to this Scandinavian beauty of a landscape, it is definitely always worth being here. The course is quite extraordinary, since there is a super long finish straight, which at first sight might look like it’s boring, but in reality, this is where the entire race is being decided in the end. So, one thing is for sure, Idre Fjäll heats are never really done until the very finish line, which of course makes for very exiting races.

Sandra Naeslund in a league of her own

So far this season, Swedish top star Sandra Naeslund was absolutely unbeatable. She already showed in each quali her great dominance and also in the following competitions, she could not be stopped. Let’s take a look at the record table so far: Naeslund had 9 World Cup starts this season out of which she took 7 individual wins and one together with team mate David Mobaerg at the mixed-team event in Arosa.

The 25-year-old is on top of her game this season and if she continues like that, theoretically she could beat Fanny Smith’s all-time World Cup victories record, which is 29. Naeslund stands at 24 World Cup wins so far and assuming, she would continue to win each competition left this season, she could equal the record in Reiteralm (AUT) and beat the record at the World Cup finals in Veysonnaz (SUI). But there is still quite the road ahead of us with the Olympics coming up as well, so let’s see what else Naeslund will be able to pull off this season.

In the women’s field, Naeslund will be missing some of her greatest competitiors here in Idre Fjall, as Fanny Smith is recovering at home in Switzerland after a crash, she suffered from in Nakiska at the big final.

Also, Alizee Baron (FRA), who was on top of the podium here last year, will not be competing this weekend, because she too has to recover from back pain that she had been suffering from lately.

With the Canadian team not being here, strong competitors like Brittany Phelan and Marielle Thompson will also be missing.

On the other hand, this will give other competitors the chance to go strong on their performances and fight for podium spots on this 2021 World Championships course. We can’t wait to see the outcome on the weekend.