Sharp warning in Norway ahead of ski season – now calls for change to save sport: ‘We have to solve it’

Many countries across the country are struggling financially.
In Norwegian VG, veterans and stars are now pleading for a change.
– It feels like a dying sport, says sprint star Lucas Shanavat.

Trond Nystad is a well-known cross-country skiing profile. He has been a coach for the national team of Norway, Switzerland, USA and Austria, so he must have a good understanding of what he is talking about. And he is not at all happy with the development of the sport in recent years. More and more countries are struggling financially, and it’s hard to regrow riders.

Now a change is required

Especially in traditionally smaller ski countries, such as Great Britain, Slovakia and Italy. NOW Nystad is calling for change, and asking cross-country skiers to look at the biathlon, which has made huge strides in recent years — both financially and in terms of utility.

– The International Biathlon Federation has done a very good job with television contracts, and it bears the responsibility of small nations to receive support. The biathlon has gone beyond just cross-country skiing, Nystad tells VG.

In Norway, it has been noted how interest in the biggest cross country stars has declined in competition with other sports. At the same time, Great Britain, for example, is in the midst of an economic crisis in its national cross-country team. Lucas Chanafat, from France, is one of the best runners in the world, and he gets a sense of what’s to come.

– Now long distances seem like a dying sport. We are fighting in several countries. It’s a complex issue, but we must look for solutions because it is essential to find the answers, he says.

“We have to take it seriously.”

Everyone seems to agree that something has to happen – but opinions on how to save cross-country skiing differ. Perhaps the sport’s biggest star, Johannes Klapow has previously said that people should ride bikes and compete in sponsored stables – and for their country in tournaments.

There is a lot you can remove from the bike. Lucas Chanavat says it is at least something that should be discussed between countries to find solutions.

Even Great Britain star Andrew Musgrave thinks something has to happen, and he noticed a huge difference in interest just a few years ago.

– It seems that the interest is less than a few years ago. It’s never a good sign of low viewership, and we have to take that seriously. We have to offer a product that people will look at.

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