The Jizerská 50 is my most favourite race. I am going to do it for the eleventh time, says Tommy Wernmark from Sweden

The experienced racer first competed in a cross-country skiing race in 1989. "My first race was the Vasaloppet. When I did it for the twelfth time in 2003, I told myself that I knew the trail perfectly well so I started to look for new challenges with friends from our ski club. We started in Norway with the Birkebeinerennet race in 2004. It was a really hard race because a snowstorm was just raging in the mountains," Wernmark remembers the early stages of his skiing.

"In the coming years, we tried other races: Finlandia-hiihto, Tartu Maraton in Estonia and Marcialonga in Italy", continues the Swede who first appeared at the start of the Jizerská 50 in 2008. "The Jizera Mountains enchanted me, so I decided to return the following year with my friends. The trail is not easy; the terrain is hilly, so you always go up or down. But this is what makes the race so interesting – it always brings interesting situations and beautiful views of the countryside."

He also tried other races so he can easily compare. "I did the Dolomitenlauf and König Ludwig Lauf so I have skied quite a lot. And as you have probably guessed, my most favourite race is the Jizerská 50, which I have done ten times. This year, I will go for the eleventh time, but I have taken a little step back and registered for the 25-kilometre option," he announces. "All things connected with organization from the bus transport and the trails to the service along the trail are on a very high level," he comments with an approval.

At present, Tommy Wernmark is member of the Järfälla skidklubb. "I live a little way from Stockholm, which entails uncertain training conditions as regards the snow and this is the situation right now," he adds. And how does he keep in shape outside the cross-country skiing season? "During the year, thanks to the Lidingöloppet races, which take place at the end of September in Stockholm. I have been a part of them for 34 years already. The main trail is 30 km long and I have done it ten times, same as the 15-kilometre trail. Now I do the 10-kilometre races," he says.

He visits the countries in the heart of Europe also outside the races because part of his family comes from there. "My wife comes from Prague, so I feel at home in your country. I have travelled a lot throughout the Czech Republic over the years. I sold Swedish machines for road building and other products. I always like to visit the Czech Republic," he smiles.

At the beginning of 2018, he also did the Kašperská 30 in addition to the Jizerská 50. "I wanted to try some other cross-country skiing races and also visit the Šumava Mountains in winter. Again, I have to say that the organization was excellent. It was very fine, just on a smaller scale than the Jizerská 50. No stress before the start. I am planning the Kašperská 30 this year again, this time with my friends from Sweden. I will also be on the starting line of the Orlická 40," adds the old fox with such a remarkable condition.

Cross-country skiing is a popular sport in Scandinavia, so it is no surprise that many compatriots of Tommy Wernmark take part in the Jizerská 50. "I know that many Swedes race in the Jizerská 50. Two years ago, eight racers from my club were on the starting line. The coverage of the Jizerská 50 on Swedish television probably had a great effect," he finishes his story.