Photo: YLE
Juggling a career and a commitment to elite sport is a challenge that requires both dedication and flexibility. For Isac Holmström and Julia Häger, a couple whose lives revolve around skiing and professional life, it’s a reality they navigate every day. Isac is employed by Kronqvist Ingenjörsbyrå, and Julia has Kronqvist Bolagen as her sponsor.
Julia has been a skier all her life, but started to focus more on sports after high school. “Sport has always been priority one” she explains. This season has also gone very well considering a year of injuries behind her, in November 2023 Julia performed highly nationally and even got the chance to ski the World Cup.
Isac’s journey to elite skiing was more gradual. His interest began after he moved from Åland to Helsinki to study engineering, and after a few years, he became an elite skier. “In terms of time, it means around 3-5 hours of training per day and in winter also a couple of hours of ski waxing,” he says. The 23-24 season went very well, in Finland Isac has managed to win all the long races he participated in and in Vasaloppet 2024 he took 40th place and thus the best Finnish men’s racer for the third year in a row. “When I look back, I’m happy with the season.” says Isac.
Balancing work and sport requires strategic planning and support from employers. “I’ve been lucky enough to find a very flexible workplace” Isac says of his job at Kronqvist Ingenjörsbyrå. “It’s been great to work out a plan together on how to find time to both work and training.” For Julia, flexibility is the key to combining work and sport. “I really enjoy it and have a lot of freedom in my schedule” she says of her work as a speech therapist.
For Isac and Julia, the support of each other is an important part of their success. “It’s very rewarding to be in the same sport as a couple” they admit. “We can train together, travel together and encourage each other.” Despite the constant presence of skiing in their lives, they recognise the importance of focusing on other things too.
Isac also sees synergies between his sporting and professional goals. “I believe and hope that these competences can help the company in its operations” he says of transferring qualities such as discipline and motivation from the ski track to the workplace. His commitment to sustainability matches Kronqvist’s values, and he sees potential for the company to spread positive change.
For Isac and Julia, their lives are a balancing act between their passion for skiing and their careers. Despite the challenges, it is their dedication and support from each other and their employer that keeps them driven and motivated towards their goals.
Photo: YLE