When national team coach Martina Höök goes on parental leave this fall, the Swedish Ski Association takes on former elite skier Ida Ingemarsdotter as a substitute coach for Team Svenska Spel - the Cross-Country team development team.
"I really look forward to share my experiences with future ski stars"Ida Ingemarsdotter
This spring, multiple World Championships medalist Ida Ingemarsdotter decided to end her career as a elite Cross-Country skier. At that time, she had no long-term plans for the future. A half a year later however, Ida has accepted the Swedish Ski Association's offer of a parent vicariate for Martina Höök, national team coach for the development team Team Svenska Spel.
"I was delighted with the question. That's what I've been doing in sports science in parallel with my skiing career. I know a lot about training, both in practice and in theory, and find it very interesting. Sweden has many talents on the way up and if I can help to help some riders on the road with my experience, I am grateful for that"
The Team Svenska Spel national team includes skiers aged 19-23, who are outside the A-team.
"Ida will plan and execute the team's racing activities during the winter together with coach Johan Granath. She will not be out at all competitions, but at many of them", explains national team manager Karin Ersson, who led the recruitment of Ida Ingemarsdotter.
This winter's competition program includes U23 / JVM in Germany, the Scandinavian Cup, the junior national championship and the Youth Olympics. Ida itself is also very much looking forward to being out at the national competitions around the country.
"It will be instructive to see the whole of Ski-Sweden's activities, not just the national team. It is ski-Sweden that supplies the future riders. It's important to remember", says Ida.
After the summer, Ida started working as a ski gym trainer. She will now combine that assignment with the national team assignment, which thus becomes 80%. She sees this as a good combination.
"I work at Fjällgymnasiet in Svenstavik one day a week. For me, who focused on being elite for many years, it is very important to also get insight into how the riders are doing in their everyday life in the schools. Then I think I can do a better job."
Ida will start her work on October 1st and will stay until April 30th. She's clear what she's most looking forward to with the assignment: "To be able to follow actively on their path in development. Be on a workout and pass on what was important in my own development".
The Swedish Ski Federation is very pleased with the recruitment of Ida Ingemarsdotter as a substitute for Martina Höök.
"Ida has above all a fresh successful career behind her and brings with her important experiences into the coach assignment. She also soon has a degree in sports science and thus has valuable education and a genuine interest in trainer issues. Now she gets the chance to build on her experience with Johan Granath during the year. I think Ida and Johan will complement each other very well", says Karin Ersson.