Norway  puts its economic might on display in Planica to dismay of other nations

Norway puts its economic might on display in Planica to dismay of other nations

Leaders, Money & Finance
"...at the entrance to the ( Planica ski) stadium, the Norwegian Skiing Association has left its mark on the arena by parking a large trailer that will delight the association's VIP guests during the championship…" Have to give a credit to Nettavisen & the rest of the Norwegian media: they didn't skip on the most interesting story of the world championships so far.   The reaction of the rest of the xcski world was pretty much summed up by the Slovenian xcski legend  Petra Majdic:    " What the hell is Norway doing? Does Norway need to make smaller ski nations even smaller? Fair enough that they can afford to pay 6,000 euros to park here for their sponsors, but the cross-country skiing needs now more than ever that there…
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Are modern skis any better than those made 25 years ago? Two experts lean on the issue

Are modern skis any better than those made 25 years ago? Two experts lean on the issue

Gear News, Leaders
If  we were to pick a subject skiers like to discuss the most, it probably would be " are the best modern skis that retail for 1000 euros/ dollars any better than what was sold in the past ( often for half price)?" Now no lesser figure than a coach of Alexander Bolshunov and Natalia Nepryaeva decides to speak. In interview with a newsportal 7startov.com Yuri Borodavko does not mince his words: " The skis that were made 25 years ago glide about the same as the new Fisher Helium or 3Ds, which are advertised so heavily, or the new Salomon, for instance, who's makers say they employ the latest technology." Borodavko goes to explain that there is particular hill in one of the top ski centers in Siberia that's…
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Valentina Vuerich makes history by signing with Team Norway

Valentina Vuerich makes history by signing with Team Norway

Leaders, Newsfeed
Vale is special, there is probably no one else like her on the World Cup circuit: We profiled Ms.Vuerich more than two years ago on dailyskier.com : "..a former athlete herself, Valentina is a lot more than a ski technician. She is a training partner and, judging by amounts of smiles & giggles, one of the close friends to her Team Slovenia athletes…" The Italian specialist was instrumental in success of the Slovenian team in the recent years - but this month Valentina has signed a contract with none less than Team Norway. Thus becoming, we believe, the first foreign female ski specialist with them. She would be primarily responsible for making sure the skis of Heidi Weng, Julie Myhre and Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget are flying in every race. We…
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Xcskiing 2022 – a list of woes goes long

Xcskiing 2022 – a list of woes goes long

Leaders, Newsfeed
Do you like understatements? Here's one: The times ain't easy for the international cross country skiing. If you read this, you most likely have your own reasons to think so. Nonetheless, let us list them: The bosses of the most powerful national ski associations are in open revolt against the FIS boss Johan Eliasch and his radical reforms. The World Cup 22/ 23 schedule is a very illustration of the word " lopsided": 4 out of 15 competition venues are located in Norway - while one of the most important markets , Germany, hosts only one. There are zero races in the Central Europe ( Poland, Czechia, Austria, East Germany etc.) and there are zero races outside of Europe in general. Neither are the things shiny when it comes to…
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Ustiugov deserves Olympic medal more than anybody else in cross-country skiing  – as a compensation for the  2018 Olympics that never happened in his career – Markus Cramer

Ustiugov deserves Olympic medal more than anybody else in cross-country skiing – as a compensation for the 2018 Olympics that never happened in his career – Markus Cramer

Leaders, Newsfeed
There will be an Olympic debut like no other in the Olympic Sprint competitions on Tuesday. Well, technically Sergey Ustiugov had his first Olympic race 8 years ago in Sochi where then-21 year old was one of the hot Sprint favorites. But the chaos in the Sprint finals with many a fall led to Ustiugov tripping over a Swedish skier, breaking his pole and finishing - if you could call it that - a minute behind the winner, Ola Vigen Hattestad of Norway. Ustiugov hasn't started in any other race in Sochi. In the years between Sochi'14 and Pyeongchang'18 the Russian "Moose", as his domestic fans call him ,established himself as a dominant force in the international cross country skiing, winning anything from sprints to 50k and was gearing up…
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