The result: equal skating for all

The financial situation is critical for many small cross-country skiing countries such as Switzerland, France, Italy and Great Britain, said the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (Fis) competition director Pierre Mignery in an interview in VG.

It’s the result of a longer passive spiral with decreasing TV times – often on pay channels – fewer sponsors, lower public interest and less talent willing to skate.

‘An interesting question’

Guri Knotten, the new head of cross-country skiing in Switzerland, proposes in the Norwegian VG a joint sponsorship team for all countries, in order to create financial conditions for more countries to conduct cross-country skiing at the highest level.

This suggestion is supported by Swedish national team skaters William Buruma and Kali Halvarsson:

– If everyone went on the same slopes, I think smaller countries would save incredible money and it would be more. We talk a lot about some of the countries that are in more difficulty and we have to get everyone involved. William Buruma says this is an issue worth touching on, and continues:

– We already have this when we ski (make sure all skis are the same). This is an issue worth raising.

Kali Halvarson agrees:

It will make the sport fairer. It should be possible to get 60 pairs of skates if we run 60 people in a World Cup. Then it’s possible to resolve that you have very similar skis, he says.

The herd manager is skeptical

On the other hand, Swedish herd manager Peter Maelback doesn’t believe in the idea.

– I don’t think he will succeed in classic skating. There, it’s individually regulated which way you want the wall mount and which sleds you want to keep on, says Myhlback.

The idea of ​​evenly cushioned skis could become a problem for Fis, says Anders Byström, director of the Swedish national team.

– We will definitely discuss it in the Fis group in September, when we have a meeting. Obviously, we have to see how more countries can participate and fight at the summit, says Bystrom.

CLIP: National Team Skaters About Dropouts: ‘Weird If We Didn’t Notice’ (August 26, 2022)

JavaScript must be enabled to play the video