2019 Archives

23Dec 2019 by DS News Team

Skiing & Media 101

We get questions that made us think it is worth explaining the basics of how media covers cross country skiing, what's the difference between writing, photo and television reporting and why does it all matter at the end. ....Once upon a time, when the xcskiing was a sport of bearded woodcutters, it was common for newspapers and television stations to just send their reporters to take a few pictures of them Nordic heroes in action and to do an interview at the finish line. Well, things changed since then - and rather radically. These days, the media allowed ( accredited ) at the event is firmly divided into two categories: paying and non-paying type. For reasons of political correctness it's rarely actually called that but it does not change the…

22Dec 2019 by DS News Team

World Cup Stage Fail?

Money & Finance, Newsfeed

Planica is a lovely place, but this weekend's World Cup stage was a fail. The weather played its part making skiing look like a form of OCR competition, but even in the best of conditions the very idea of having it where it was held and when it was held raises a lot of questions, among them: - What's the point of having it in the country/ region that is lukewarm to cross country skiing despite very impressive performance by its (mostly female side of) team? Ski jumping events in the area draw tens of thousands of spectators, ditto for alpine skiing - but cross country ones are, sadly, not and shall not in a foreseeable future. - What's the point of scheduling Planica stage two days ahead of Christmas?…

18Dec 2019 by DS News Team

Ski Bosses R US – Industry Captains Descend On Davos

Leaders, Newsfeed

We are of opinion that putting a face to a name makes a huge difference. In this case, faces of people who play prominent role in cross country skiing industry. Aside from the world championships and the Olympics, there is no better place to catch them than the annual Davos Nordic stage of the World Cup in mid-December. It might be a Swiss air but we reckon it's more about a unique layout of the Davos skis stadium: there a place where athletes prepare and where equipment-making dignitaries congregate is one & same, creating a sort of "mixed zone" where athletes could casually talk to producers and suppliers immediately before or after the race. [caption id="attachment_14008" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie is not just one the most legendary names in…

16Dec 2019 by DS News Team

Equipment Update: What We Saw In Davos

Gear News, Newsfeed

Davos is a special FIS World Cup stage because that's the place where bosses and key personnel of the top equipment producing companies choose to congregate at, year after year. We will have a separate little story telling you who's been around this year, but it's fair to assume that the captains of the industry are not just coming to breath that fresh Swiss mountain air - but to watch their latest gear being employed to win and to talk to athletes they sponsor. That's not to say that Davos has become the place to launch your latest & bestest, alas. We openly hope the day will come. But even the last week there were a few debuts or just relative rarities we saw - and will share with you.…

14Dec 2019 by DS News Team

Miracles Do Happen: Linn Svahn’s Incredible World Cup Debut

Leaders, Newsfeed

Just think about it: a 20 year old Linn Svahn debuts at the World Cup. Naturally, she is outside the elite seeded group and thus starts her qualification 34d. With that starting position you are considered very good to make it to Top 30, extremely good if you make it to the Semis. To go on winning the stage is simply unheard of, never happened. Miracles do happen and today's one is called Linn Svahn.

Year: 2019