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The International Ski Federation ( FIS) has published its biannual Bulletin. We read trough its 176 pages so you don’t have to. If you do , however, here’s a link Here’s what we gleaned: – FIS continues to emphasize effort that went into development and upkeep of the FIS App for “fans and stakeholders alike”. The said app ( and we presume all reading this have already downloaded & are using it) allows real-time monitoring of all FIS events and races, including cross country skiing. There were circa 300.000 app downloads in total since its launch some 2 years ago Fair to say that that’s the best gauge of the size of active audience of all sports under FIS umbrella. No breakdown per sport was provided. – Next important bit is phrased thus. We are having problem to decipher what it actually means – and when anything would come out of it: “A proposal will be established to define a possible format for mixed gender event” Very strange timeframe, given an unqualified success mixed gender races enjoy in biathlon. – There is , apparently, also a discussion afoot about more “sprint oriented team sprint format” That’s it when it comes …
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..One reason every ski-related resource in the world is writing these days about Andy Newell’s new endeavor is how well liked the man is on an international ski circuit. With a career spanning some 15+ years, 8 ( eight!) World Championships and four Olympics, Newell is a true living legend, particularly in ski sprint that was in its infancy at the beginning of the century when the American started. With the last Olympics over & done with, a 34 year old native of Bennington, VT is moving to the next phase in life Nordic Team Solutions is what Newell’s new coaching project is called, the one that will grow both future Nordic stars and the sport’s popularity. The Daily Skier caught up with the man to talk about his skiing career and his new company. I. Life in skiing – How did the world of skiing change in 15+ years that you were competing internationally? In every sense – training, equipment, spirit of competition etc. etc. The World of skiing has changed quite a bit since I started my first World Championships in 2003. Equipment has changed, race formats have changed, and because of that technique and training has continued …
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Just how popular cross country skiing is in Norway? Well, popular enough for one of the country’s top crime fiction writers ( and a former minister of Justice, if anybody needs to know) to cobble together a book centered at the sport. “A Tomb For Two” plot goes like this: Norway’s best female skier is caught taking Clostebol right before the Olympic games. Sounds familiar? Well, that’s where would-be realism ends and full-throttle drama begins. The protagonist, one Hege Chin Morell, is a Chinese orphan, adopted by a rich Norwegian businessman: shy, shunned by the rest of the team and avoided by sponsors. Plot gets thicker when a promising male skier is found dead with a high amount of Clostebal in his blood. Tough female private investigator gets on the case and soon discovers a sinister world of deception and sabotage, old sins and new crimes that are being planned. “The panic in Norway’s cross-country establishment is total! ” the book summary cheerfully promises. All yours for 399 NOK or about 42 euros plus shipping. Happy bedtime reading! …
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They say it’s finally nearly, almost there – this time for real There is no need to tell you what the name Polar means for cross country skiing. Worn & used by the best, for decades it was synonymous with elite level training and performance. However, the Kempele, Finland based company was late, incredibly late with a replacement for its storied, still highly functional – but unforgivably old ( 4 years since its launch!) V800. And the competitors caught up. Now the market is divided between Polar ( still selling V800) , Garmin and Suunto that came up with wrist computers capable not only measuring vital data, but also working as an external smartphone terminal of sorts. And making fashion statement at the same time – whatever that fashion is. We won’t bore you with features comparisons of different great devices – it’s only a webclick away if so you wish. Rather, we show here who is wearing what in the world of elite skiing. Might it inspire you. “Team Suunto” “Garmin Crew ” “Polar V800 Appreciation Society” …
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There are not many controvercies in the international cross country skiing – the debate storms that rock, say, NFL thanks to Colin Kaepernick kneeling, are virtually unheard of. But things might be changing in some respect. Charlotte Kalla made headlines this spring when she went public with her dislike for gambling. A triple Olympic champion went on record to say that “There is such a level of abuse – and the gambling companies, they must take their share of responsibility for that.” A 31 year old pointed out that her own psychologist Thomas Nilsson’s works with gambling addicted clients and listening to him convinced her even further. “His profession has influenced my attitude and knowledge about it. Just as with other dependencies, so many people are affected” Kalla, who is one of the most recognizible “sporting celebrities”in Sweden and is in high demand with advertizers, has flat out refused to even consider accepting sponsorship deals from any gambling/betting companies. The catch? The sports betting shops and lotteries are among the most important partners for many other skiers and skiing federations. Here’s, for instance, Kerttu Niskanen doing a spot to promote Veikkaus, the Finnish national betting agency ( owned by the Finnish …
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