A Thrilling Start to the Season in Bad Gastein
On December 12th, I arrived in Bad Gastein, eager to kick off the Ski Classics season. Armed with new product innovations, I immediately got to work with Luca and Gabbe in the waxing bus. After a quick meal and alignment meeting, we headed to SportGastein for the first glide testing session. The sun was setting, and the temperature had dropped to a bone-chilling -15°C. The snow was sharp and crisp—perfect conditions to test new powders, and the results looked promising.
The test protocol was meticulous, as always. Every ski was marked and labeled to ensure confidentiality, with the team referring only to numbers rather than product names. This level of secrecy ensured no one outside the team could discern which waxes were being used.
Testing began with ski base structures, followed by glide wax trials. After initial tests, we returned to the hotel for dinner with the team. The camaraderie in Team Ramudden stood out to me—despite being brought together in July, they already shared a strong and friendly team spirit.
After dinner, Luca and Gabbe returned to the waxing bus to prepare for the next round of ski tests scheduled for early Friday morning, December 13th. At 5:30 AM, we were back at SportGastein, at an altitude of 1,500 meters. The temperature had risen to -5°C but quickly dropped to -9°C as the sun rose. We sensed an impending weather shift and began speculating about how quickly conditions might change.
By Friday afternoon, I left for Switzerland, giving the team space to prepare for the season's official kickoff. That day was filled with team photos, presentations, and interviews in the village, while Luca, Gabbe, and team leader Gustaf Korsgren focused intensely on Saturday’s prologue race preparations. There were countless decisions to make—when would the snow start falling, how much would temperatures rise, and how would changing humidity affect the snow? The waxing team faced a long night ahead.
Prologue Day
The first race, a 7 km individual start prologue, began early Saturday morning. Ski testing started as early as 4:30 AM, with Team Ramudden working tirelessly on final glide preparations. Unlike longer mass-start races, the prologue offers an indication of athlete performance relative to their competitors and the opportunity to earn early points for the overall cup.
As the race unfolded, Team Ramudden delivered an incredible performance, securing two podium finishes with Emilie and Amund. This success calmed some of the initial nerves and set the stage for Sunday’s 36 km mass-start race.
Sunday: The First Mass-Start Race
Sunday brought continuous snowfall throughout the day, making ski glide a crucial factor for podium success. The men’s race started first, followed by the women’s. Team Ramudden’s skis performed exceptionally well, with Amund and his teammates riding in the front of the pack.
In the women’s race, Emilie set a blistering pace from the start, determined to break down the competition and minimize the lead group. After one lap, she had reduced the group to just 10 skiers, maintaining an intense and demanding tempo.
A Thrilling Finish
In the men’s race, Amund played his strategy brilliantly, wearing the PINK bib signifying the Youth category leader. As the race entered its final kilometer, Emil Persson from Lager 157 surged to the front, demonstrating a remarkable return to form after a challenging last season. In the final sprint, Amund and Emil battled side by side, pushing their limits. At the finish line, Amund emerged victorious, claiming the first top podium result of the season—a powerful statement of his strength and determination.
Not far behind in the women’s race, Emilie made a bold move, breaking away from the group despite the challenging snowy conditions. Experienced skiers know the advantage of skiing in faster tracks behind the pack, but Emilie defied the odds, racing alone at the front. Meanwhile, Stina Nilsson compeating for Team Ragde, new to Ski Classics, claimed her first podium finish. Emilie, however, proved once again why she is one of a kind in this sport, delivering an extraordinary performance.
A Weekend to Celebrate
Reflecting on the weekend in Bad Gastein, I couldn’t be more thrilled for Team Ramudden. Every team member’s hard work in the preseason has paid off. With four podium finishes, it’s clear the team is ready to remain at the top this Ski Classics season.
We at SNOOW congratulate Team Ramudden on their fantastic start to the season and look forward to returning after Christmas to support them further.
Team Photos from the Kickoff Weekend in Bad Gastein
