Season prep interview with last seasons green bib winner

As the Cross-Country World Cup season approaches within the next month, Paolo Romano from fondoitalia.com introduces the story of Patrijcia Eiduka, last seasons most successful U23 athlete from Latvia and talks about her way onto the World Cup stage.

The story you've described about parents pushing their children into sports, often against their will or their own dreams, is unfortunately not uncommon in the world of sports. The desire for financial gain or personal aspirations can lead parents to exert immense pressure on their kids. In many cases, this pressure can have negative consequences on the child's relationship with the sport, their personal well-being, and their relationship with their parents.

Andrè Agassi's story is indeed a notable example of this phenomenon. His father's intense focus on making him a tennis champion, to the point of making him hate the sport and fear his father, is a stark illustration of the harm such pressure can cause. Agassi's journey to becoming one of the greatest tennis players of all time was marked by internal struggles and conflicts with his father, who initially saw his children as a means to achieve his own dreams.

On the other hand, there are positive examples of parents who support their children's dreams in sports without imposing their own desires on them. As you mentioned, Ingus Eiduks from Latvia is an excellent example of a parent who nurtured his children's passions and interests in sports while allowing them to pursue their own dreams. Such parents provide a nurturing and positive environment for their children to develop their talents and grow as athletes.

It's crucial for parents to strike a balance between guiding their children and allowing them to follow their own aspirations in sports. The pressure to perform and live up to parental expectations can be detrimental, and it's important for children to find joy and fulfillment in their chosen activities. Ideally, parents should encourage and support their children's interests while respecting their autonomy and individual goals.

Her dad as the "life coach" 
The story of Ingus Eiduks and his family is a heartwarming example of a parent who not only supported and nurtured his children's sports aspirations but also instilled important life values in them. Ingus, as both a father and a coach, played a significant role in shaping not only their athletic careers but also their characters and their approach to life.Ingus and his wife Anita provided a nurturing and disciplined environment that allowed their children to excel in cross-country skiing and biathlon. They emphasized qualities such as discipline, time management, perseverance, and determination, which are not only essential in sports but also valuable life skills.

It's particularly noteworthy that Ingus encouraged his children to pursue higher education alongside their athletic endeavors, emphasizing the importance of a well-rounded education to prepare them for life beyond sports. This dual focus on sports and education is crucial, as many athletes transition into other careers once their competitive sporting careers come to an end.

The fact that all seven of Ingus's children achieved notable success in their respective sports, with some even reaching the international level and participating in the Olympic Games, is a testament to his dedication as a coach and mentor. His role went beyond that of a coach; he was their "life coach," guiding them not only in their athletic pursuits but also in becoming good people. Patricija's found memories and appreciation for her father's influence on her life and career illustrate the deep impact he had on her and her siblings. The combination of being a caring father, dedicated coach, and mentor enriched their lives and contributed to their athletic and personal development.

This story highlights the importance of positive parenting and coaching in the world of sports, where young athletes need not only technical guidance but also emotional support, discipline, and the development of life skills. Ingus Eiduks exemplified the qualities of a supportive and loving parent-coach, and his legacy lives on through his children's achievements and the values he instilled in them.

Vecbebri, the small village of only five hundred residents, located in the municipality of Aizkraukle in Latvia, is the place where Patricija, affectionately known as "Pace," continues to reside with her family. This village, situated approximately fifty kilometers to the west of the more prominent Latvian ski center of Madona, has been her home and a significant part of her life. While Vecbebri is known for its nineteenth-century manor, to which Patricija has a sentimental connection, it may not provide the ideal conditions for her pursuit of a professional cross-country skiing career.

The fact that she returns to Vecbebri at the end of the season suggests that, despite the challenges of training and competing in a location less optimal for her profession, she maintains a strong connection to her roots and the place where she grew up. This connection to her hometown and its historical landmarks, like the nineteenth-century manor, likely holds a special place in her heart.

The story of Patricija's journey in cross-country skiing, supported by her family's dedication and her father's coaching, adds an extra layer of significance to the village of Vecbebri, as it is where her dreams and athletic career were nurtured and developed. It's a testament to the power of family support and perseverance in achieving one's goals, even in less-than-ideal circumstances.

International journey
Patricija, the talented Latvian cross-country skier, had already started her international journey before the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics. She participated in the World Championships in Lahti the previous year, although it was not an ideal format for her. Despite the challenges, she finished the sprint qualification in fifty-sixth place. This early experience on the international stage allowed her to gain valuable exposure to high-level competition.

In 2018, at the Goms Junior World Championships, Patricija achieved a significant milestone by securing the tenth place in her preferred skating technique. This marked a historic moment for Latvian cross-country skiing, showcasing her potential and determination.

Following this season, she made a strategic move by joining the Estonian team, a step towards a more professional career in cross-country skiing. Later, she had the opportunity to train with the Polish team, under the guidance of former cross-country skier Justyna Kowalczyk. This collaboration helped her further develop her classic technique, as she had primarily focused on skating in Latvia.

Over the years, Patricija's performance continued to improve, both at the junior and under-23 levels, and in World Cup competitions. She made steady progress, earning her first World Cup points in 2020 in Nove Mesto. Her dedication and hard work paid off in the 2022-23 season when she achieved a personal best by finishing fifth in the 20 km skating pursuit in Oberstdorf.

One of her significant accomplishments was winning the green bib as the best under-23 skier in the last World Cup season, a remarkable achievement that underlines her growing prominence in the world of cross-country skiing. Her journey is a testament to her talent, perseverance, and commitment to constant improvement in this demanding sport.

Cross-country mainstream started to note your name during Oberwiesenthal World Junior Championships 2020, in which you finished 4th in the 15km mass start free, where you were only two seconds away from the medal. What do your remeber from that race?

“That was a results with different feelings. On one side I was so happy for this result because it was an historic moment for Latvia cross-country ski, but at the same time I was also disappointed because I didn’t manage to finish in top 3.  Siri Wigger from Switzerland passed me in the last meters, so I was so upset at the finish line but at the same time happy for this historic result for my country. The feeling was very strange in that occasion but now, when i look back,  I can say that I am so happy for the forth position i got. It means so much to be in that position because I come from Latvia, and the other girls in front of me were from Norway (Fossesholm), Switzerland (Wigger) and Poland (Marcisz), all big and historical cross-country nations, so it is still an important achievement that I remember well for me and for all our latvians’ supporter.”

Why do you think that you have reached success in cross-country,  and your peers and team mates haven’t? What makes you so special?

“I think one of the biggest thing is that my dad has been my coach.  So when your dad is your coach, that also means that you have no holidays, often you have two sessions for day. He has been pretty strict with training but at the same time it paid off, and I am  happy for this. When i was young, i usually went to training when my classmates or teammates when to party. So I think my constant work has been one of the reason why I got to this level. I have been training a lot for all my life to be honest.”

How was the project with Team Aker Dæhlie last season?

“Before i was with the Poland team, but after ‘21-22 season I knew I wanted some changes in my life. I had some plan for training that I wanted to put in action, and that summer I tried to train alone, but I knew that before the winter I needed a team. There is no sense in keeping training without a team that take care of you during World Cup races. I trained a lot during that summer anyway, and found some occasional cooperation with some teams. Luckily I had some good contact in Estonia. So through Estonian Federation I got into Team Aker Dæhlie. That was immediately a good connection with them, and they were really happy to help me out and has welcomed me warmly in their team. They wanted to support small nations and athletes like me, and I can say that this project has paid off so well for me. They really take care about my skis, they coaches me so well, and I can say only positive thing about them. I feel that I am in a high level professional team right now, and that feels very good. We will see how it goes next season but the first year with them has been a year of positive changes compared with my usual training I was used to. We will see what next season will bring but I feel OK, still training a lot and learning a lot with the other guys in our team.”

With Team Aker Dæhlie you have two Norwegian coaches, Jostein Vinjerui and Hans Christian Stadheim. What’s special about them?

“To be honest there is nothing really special, new or magic with them. All the norwegian magic is that you have to focus so much on your good technique because we are working on our technique all summer long, and this work is never good enough, there are always things to improve. I know that many people ask us what is this magic with norwegian athletes and coaches, but the simple thing is that they train so much and there are no any special secrets. There are just many controlled intensity training, working a lot, lot of focus on an athlete technique, and good gym exercises. That is what makes them so strong. I could only add that they have very high knowledge of cross-country skiing, a thing that is missing in other smaller nations.”

How do you describe yourself as a cross-country skier?

"It’s difficult for me to talk about myself. But I am an athlete who likes to train a lot, and sometimes a bit too much. I never stop in due time and usually when I stop it is too late or I am already over trained. But that is something that I recently have learned to listen more to my body and sometimes if I feel too tired I need to skip the following session. In competition to be a better skier I miss a bit of aggressiveness, especially in mass start and in sprint. That’s why very often I lose my position when i am in bigger groups, because I am not aggressive enough, maybe also because I am a small girl. I like to skate the most, i dont think i am that of a great classic skier, but i have been working hard in classic during this summer preparation, so hopefully we will see if I will get better results in classic races next winter.”

During your career so far, we can see that you have the best results in skating. Can you explain that?

“Yes, I get out the best in myself when i skate.  It is mainly because we don’t have so much snow in Latvia during the winter, so it is not always possible to make classic tracks. But it is possible to skate, and that is what i startet of with when i was young."

How is it going your summer preparation after the long recovery due to your Lahti’s fall?

“After that fall I had last March in Lahti, it took one and a half month off to recover properly. I had to fix my arm and shoulder and I couldn’t do anything at all. So this spring I had a longer period of vacation then i have had before. Fortunately the season was amost over when I broke my scapula in Finland. Now I feel that I am working at full of my possibilities, and I feel even stronger than before. Maybe that extra time I spent home with my family and friends gave me more energy for this summer training. So this summer preparation has been going very well and I really hope to see this improvement in next winter’s results.”

Tell us how is, at the moment and in perspective, the situation of cross-country in the Baltic nations and in Latvia in particular?

“I will say that Latvia are getting better and better overall, and also the younger skier are doing good improvement. I would say that some years ago, Latvia´n was not that good of a nation in Cross-country. The popularity of cross-country is going up, and that is really nice. We have stronger athletes in junior categories, and I feel quite proud of that because a few years ago nobody could believe that we were able to reach such a high level and results in this sport. The Baltic states, Estonia of course have had a bigger history and they have been a good source of inspiration for us in Latvia. This is because we always have looked at Estonia as a model to follow and to learn. During the Olympic Games 2018 season I was with the Estonian team, and they helped me to improve myself a lot. Estonia had in the past great atheletes who participated in the Olympics, while in Latvia we still are not that good but we are on our way.”

How do you feel that thirteen of the races is sprint races, in the next season World Cup calender? Isn’t that too penalizing for endurance skiers as you are?

“I am not a sprinter, but it is okey. I try to always compete in the Sprints but I am not that good, especially in the classic Sprint. But without the Sprints, it would be difficult to survive for a distance skiier I’d say, because if you are fighting for the World Cup overall, then you must do both distance and sprint. Thirteen races It’s a lot but that’s OK, I sincerely cannot do nothing about it.“

Two seasons ago you where interviewed by Jauns.lv, and then you said that it was difficult to communcate with athletes from the Nordic countries? How is this situation now?

“Now it is much different, because when you get closer to them, when you know each other better, everything change. And now I will say that they are so friendly and nice to me. When I am train with them in Norway, or we go out skiing together, they are always so nice inviting me for some intervals training. Maybe from the outside it can look different with them,  specialy of their big tradition and success in cross-country, but when you know them closer you change opinion totally.”

Despite all the pressure, many competitions around the world, and the quantity of training and travels that being a skier imply, did you find real trusted friend inside the World Cup circuit or just friends?

“Yes, during last season I got a lot of  good contacts with other skiers. Maybe not real friends but really good connections with some other nation’s athletes. When you become a better athlete then you also have the possibility to get more and new friends, and Aker Dæhlie is a good example of that. And this is across on nations that i have been really close to now. Like Sophia Laukli from USA, Katerina Janatova from Czech Republic, all the british boys and the norwegian coaches. I could really say that I have so many friends right now.”

Last year you got the green bib for the best under 23. What is your target for next season? Transforming green to yellow bib, now that you are twenty four years old?

"Not yet.  But luckily for me, next season there is no World Championships or Olympic Games, so I will try some new things. Like i said, i was training a bit differently during the sumer, so for me next year is gonna be a bit of an experiment season. But my goals will be to ski fast during the Tour de Ski and about the overall I would like to stabilize my results always in the top 20. That is my goals for next season.”

This article was first published on fondoitalia.