Frida Karlsson’s unusual Olympic build-up: “Haven’t been on skis since Worlds”

Swedish cross‑country skiing star Frida Karlsson has chosen an unconventional route in her build‑up to the 2026 Olympic season. Rather than attending the Swedish national team’s altitude camps, she has based much of her preparation on Tenerife, using the island’s long climbs for intensive dry‑land training.

Karlsson says the approach grew out of last year, when she rehabilitated a foot injury and noticed how well the “raw” off‑snow training worked for her. As a result, she has postponed the transition to snow. “I’m longing to put my skis back on. Apart from a filming session this summer, I haven’t been on skis since the World Championships,” she says ahead of Sweden’s domestic season opener on Friday.

The focus of her training has been strength and endurance on foot and poles rather than early snow time, with the goal of arriving fresher later in the season and building toward the Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympics. Karlsson emphasizes that the plan is tailored to her needs and that she feels confident after a productive summer and autumn period on dry land.