Is World’s Best Ski Marathoner Preparing Comeback?

Is World’s Best Ski Marathoner Preparing Comeback?

Leaders, Newsfeed
The anticipation of the CAS verdict on Therese Johaug case have eclipsed another event of note in Norwegian skiing: Petter Eliassen is back! Well, kind of. For those of our readers, who are not following the ski marathons as closely as they deserve to be followed, a quick reminder: Eliassen is, arguably, the strongest long distance skier of the last five seasons. Won Vasaloppet, Jizerska and overall Visma Ski Classic titles. Many a skier the world over are still rewatching his Birkebeinerrennet 2015 duel with Martin Jonsrud Sundby, that the former won. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIdcf3a9qeo Eliassen was particularly popular for his distinct racing style: not a strong finisher, he's known to kick the tempo into the high gear mid-distance and run to victory. Lots of times it worked – other times strong…
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Charlotta Kalla, Swedish Ski Federation – And 205.000 Swedish Kronor Between Them

Charlotta Kalla, Swedish Ski Federation – And 205.000 Swedish Kronor Between Them

Money & Finance, Newsfeed
The standoff between the Sweden's best skier and the Swedish Ski Federation over bonuses for the last season seems to continue. It also lifts the veil of relative secrecy over rarely discussed system of remuneration in cross skiing at the elite level. It is revealed that the Swedish Ski Federation promised its athletes SEK 150.000 bonus for gold, 60.000 for silver and 30.000 for bronze at the World Championships in Lahti. Charlotta Kalla won silver in 10km race and came 3d in  15 km  skiathlon – as well as being instrumental in winning the silver for Team Sweden in 4 X 5 relay in Lahti this year. That should have made her entitled to SEK 105.000 ( circa EUR 11.000) in bonus money. Except that the Federation is now refusing to…
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Poll: Majority Of Norwegians No Longer Believe In Doping-Free Skiing

Poll: Majority Of Norwegians No Longer Believe In Doping-Free Skiing

Leaders, Newsfeed
Only 49 percent of Norwegians believe that domestic cross-country skiers are completely doping-free according to the latest poll conducted by Ipsos for the Norway's Dagbladet newspaper This is a marked decrease of trust since the similar survey was done in 2014 by Ipsos MMI/ Dagbladet when 65 percent say that doping in domestic cross country skiing occurs "vary rarely or never". There is no big mystery as to why the public attitude in the world's most skiing country gone decidedly more sour – in the wake of asthma case against Martin Johnsrud Sundby and the doping case against Therese Johaug it would be expected. Just a quick reminder - neither admitted to taking certain medications to enhance performance, both claimed "innocence of intent" - whether the public believed them or…
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Video of Therese Johaug Training in Sjusjøen Appears Online

Video of Therese Johaug Training in Sjusjøen Appears Online

Leaders, Newsfeed
Therese Johaug wants everybody to know that she is training very, very hard for her comeback next season. Johaug's trainer, Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass, told the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet this week that Therese has become physically much stronger, both in upper body core and leg muscles. At 1.62 m and 46 kg, the Norwegian was indomitable throughout her skiing career on hilly terrain, while losing to competition on flat stretches of the trail. No more, it seems: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTqdoTmhMlO Before beating the competition in Pyeongchang, however, the 28 year old will have to convince the Court of Arbitration for Sport to allow her to participate in the Olympics. Johaug sat out the last season, being banned for using clostebol, a steroid, unintentionally. TOP PHOTO Courtesy of Theres Johauge Instagram johaugtherese
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