What don’t you want to see from Calle Halfvarsson this season?

– I don’t want to see a lot of hassle and whining and fussing with my stomach and all the hassle that usually comes in the package during the winter. That’s it, I don’t want to stand there again and whine at a championship that everything is going against me.

Are you done whining?

– I think yes. There must be some measure of my whining.

But did you start the competitive season with a setback, an injury during a roller ski race?

– I had a pain in one hand and I must have broken. Two days later it was good, there was nothing to worry about.

A year ago you said you could still be the best skier in the world, do you still think so?

– I am quite convinced of that, otherwise I would not continue.

What do you need to improve?

– I have to stay healthy so that I can do the training I need and not exceed the limit if I stay healthy.

What can go wrong?

– I must not be naive and drive too hard for me to go down to the basement.

When were you at your best?

– The best results were probably a few years ago, it was probably 2017 that I had the best results, it starts to be a few years ago. After that it was a few gloomy years.

The big championships are not your championships?

– The 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang were not good. The WC at Seefeld 2019 probably went well again, I finished with a sixth place but it’s still not good. I need to fight.

Did you continue to train a lot of strength?

– No, I hardly did weight training this summer.

What did you drive then?

– I put more strength on the chest, heavy weights that I completely ignored.

What do you want to see for the results this season?

– I’m not satisfied with a top 10 or a top 15. I want higher.

If you don’t get close to the podium, what happens?

– If I was to start doing good races but I think I won’t do better than ten, then I think that’s pretty close to the end.

How important is the opening of the season in Gällivare?

– Not super important. I don’t feel the need to win at Gällivare but I will do my best and I will fight for it.

Are you guaranteed to be able to go to Ruka?

– Yes, but I will not go to Ruka if I feel that I have nothing to do there.

When do you want the shape to appear?

– It is in January and February that you should be at your best, there is a little left.

Beijing Olympic Games in February, want to compete at an altitude of 1,600 meters?

– I’ve never been to Beijing but the high altitude shouldn’t be a problem as long as I have the days I need to acclimatize to the high altitude. I usually don’t get bad answers there.

You are 32 and made your World Cup debut in 2009, how long can you fight?

– I don’t see any issues with age yet, it’s probably more how long I can be without results, that’s probably where I can take it.