The Spanish skier recently expressed his passion for cross-country skiing in an interview with ProXCskiing, discussing what it takes to become a professional skier in Spain.
While many associate Spain with summer training camps, few know about its talented cross-country skiers. Imanol Rojo stands out as one of the elite athletes dedicated to winter sports, representing Spain in prestigious events like the World Cup, World Championships, and the Winter Olympic Games.
Last year, at the Nordic Ski World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, Imanol delivered an impressive performance, competing alongside the world’s best skiers right up to the finish line.
This year, he’s aiming to replicate that success in Beijing: “My goal is to achieve a strong result at the Winter Olympics. I want to compete fiercely as I did in Oberstdorf, targeting the top 20 or even higher,” he shared with ProXCskiing.
After the Tour de Ski, Imanol relocated to Andorra to intensify his training for the Olympic Games.
“It really surprised me to secure two top 30 finishes in the Tour de Ski. My focus has been on the Olympics, so I wasn’t expecting those results. Now in Andorra, I’m preparing for Beijing and feeling better each day,” Imanol commented.
Imanol dedicates a significant amount of time training in Norway with other elite athletes, including the Skinstad brothers. He expresses gratitude for the opportunity to train alongside them.
“They feel like family to me,” Imanol said. “I met them when they came to train in Mar de Pulpi in the hot region of Almeria (Spain). Before that, I raced against them in Praz de Lys in 2009 and in a long-distance event in Italy. They’ve been instrumental in my training.”
The Challenges of Being a Cross-Country Skier in Spain
Imanol’s journey into cross-country skiing began through his parents’ deep appreciation for the mountains and the sport.
After discovering Nordic skiing, Imanol and his brother were quickly hooked. They began competing in Alpen Cup and FIS races, enjoying the chance to travel to some of Europe’s best cross-country skiing locations.
However, pursuing cross-country skiing in Spain is far from easy. The nation isn’t widely recognized for its winter sports athletes.
“It’s challenging because many people are unaware of this sport. Spain does boast impressive resorts for cross-country skiing with high mountains, but unfortunately, we lack adequate snowfall,” Imanol explained.
“The lack of interest in winter sports makes it difficult to secure sponsorships. Fortunately, being from the Basque Country helps me find some funding for my projects,” Imanol noted.
Yet, interest in cross-country skiing is on the rise. Imanol believes the Spanish Winter Sports Federation is actively working to engage more young athletes in the sport.
“I think my achievements help draw more youth into cross-country skiing,” he concluded.
Imanol intends to pursue his passion and continue competing at an elite level in cross-country skiing. And when he eventually retires, he hopes to remain involved in the sports world.
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FACTS: 2022 OLYMPIC GAMES
Where: Beijing, China
When: February 4 to 20, 2022
What: Olympic Winter Games
Beijing 2022 – All you need to know
What happens when:
Complete schedule for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, covering all sports.
Who: 53 cross-country teams will compete at the 2022 Olympics, fielding between 1 and 16 athletes each.
All cross-country ski teams participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics.
