Alexander Ståhlberg has had to rethink his nutrition. Ex-national team skier brings sense to training.
- Alexander Ståhlberg lost too much weight. The arms and legs are completely gone.
- Suurpauaus has learned to eat enough.
- Ex-national team skier Matias Strandvall tries to bring moderation to training.
– It’s a bad feeling, Alexander Ståhlberg download.
Ståhlberg, one of the great promises of Finnish skiing, won three World Youth Championship medals in 2021. His career has already been in headwinds for two seasons.
This winter, Ståhlberg has competed in four starts of the Scandinavian Cup, a few FIS competitions and the SC skiing. The best result from the Scandinavian Cup is 53rd place.
– During the Games, I thought that I should ski harder. It might have felt good otherwise, but my arms and legs have been completely gone. That tells you how bad I’ve been. I have much more to give, he laments.
Alexander Ståhlberg had to change his eating habits when the weight dropped too much. Jussi Saarinen
Ståhlberg said a year ago that he underwent two surgeries in the summer of 2022. He did not reveal the reasons for the operations.
Towards winter, the skiing promise wanted to lose weight in order to ski harder, but it turned out differently. Ståhlberg ate too little, and his body did not have enough energy for intensive training. I lost several kilos.
Reintroducing eating wasn’t easy.
– It was difficult when you had to trust that it would bring results. Nowadays, I don’t think about it so much. I’ve had enough energy lately. I have moved on, Ståhlberg says now.
The skier did not want the help of a nutritionist.
– I decide what I eat myself. No matter what anyone else says. This works for me.
Brake
Matias Strandvall (right) coaches Alexander Ståhlberg. ANNI SAARELA
Ståhlberg is coached by an ex-skier Matias Strandvall. The former national team skier has tried to find a balance in making his protective gear.
According to Strandvall, Ståhlberg’s training hasn’t changed much in recent years, but the two have focused on listening carefully to the signals Ståhlberg’s body gives.
– In the summer, we noticed that we are already going in the right direction. Now that everything is in order in terms of energy intake, we dare to challenge and train harder, says Stranvall.
– This is continuous learning. I think the balance has now been found, he continues.
Ståhlberg skied tenth in the 20 kilometers of the SC Games. Pasi Liesimaa
Strandvall has had to talk sense into his protégé.
– If I feel bad, I skip a hard workout because the body needs to rest. Again, I feel that I have to do the training. “Matu” calms down and says that the exercise in question will be done another day, says Ståhlberg.
The two got signs of a light at the end of the tunnel on Saturday in Vantaa SC skiing. Ståhlberg finished tenth in the 20-kilometer traditional race, despite being the winner Cross mat Hakola two minutes came.
– You have to be satisfied, because the body felt good. I skied on Matias’s skis. It helped, Ståhlberg smiled.
– I know that I can ski harder, maybe in the top five. If I get the most out of my body, the result will come.
Back to the medals
Ståhlberg skied three World Cup races in 2021. Pasi Liesimaa
According to Strandvall, Ståhlberg’s skiing has been getting better since December.
This season, the biggest races of the promise are the junior and adult ski championships. A place in the World Cup in Lahti at the beginning of March is of interest.
– You have to eat and exercise enough and believe in what you are doing. Of course, I want to fight for medals and win at the adult level as well, says Ståhlberg.
The Junior World Cup medalist doesn’t want to mess around.
– I can’t change the past. I want to look forward and not repeat the same mistakes.