In a comment in Nettavisenin the middle of the ski WC in Planica, the Swedish cross-country journalist Torbjörn Nordvall wrote that “cross-country skiing is the world’s most unfair sport”.
He believes that nations such as Norway and Sweden’s budget, capacity and resources for ski lubrication are harmful to other countries in Europe and the world.
– A joint greaser organization, where athletes from all nations get the same opportunities, would make the World Cup, World Cup and Olympics much fairer, writes Nordvall.
Together, Sweden and Norway took 39 out of 72 possible medals during this year’s World Ski Championships in Planica. Especially on the cross-country side, the rivals dominated.
DESTROYER: Torbjörn Nordvall believes that Norway’s dominance in cross-country skiing is ruining the sport. Photo: Frode Sunde / TV 2
– It is Norway and Sweden versus several others who do not have the same resources and research behind them. This is a process throughout the year. Sweden has five full-time employees who do nothing but test skis. Then it will be a competitive advantage, I think, without taking any credit away from them, says Nordvall to TV 2.
– Goes in wave valleys
Former head of top sports at the Olympiatoppen, Bjørge Stensbøl, understands what the cross-country journalist means.
– There are probably several nations, Finland, Italy, France, which spend roughly one third of the budget on lubrication. But it is clear that Norway has been at the top for most of 30 years, thanks in large part to research that other nations could not afford.
– Are the results related to lubrication resources?
– That is one element, but there are many other challenges cross-country skiing has. Environment, snow production, climate crisis, we have to get higher. It’s a dominance that I think is tempered, this goes in waves and now it’s Norway, says Stensbøl.
He believes that cross-country skiing loses out on the European market when more nations do not mix at the top. He is supported by Nordvall.
VERY DIFFERENT: Bjørge Stensbøl, former head of top sports, believes cross-country skiing has more reasons to worry than one or two teams dominating. Photo: Frode Sunde / TV 2
– Not everyone has capital and resources. For rich Norway it may not matter that much, but to recruit new ones we need more, says Nordvall, who points out that the International Cross-Country Federation (FIS) should give more money to the nations that have fewer resources, says the Swedish cross-country journalist.
Will not put my foot down
TV 2’s cross-country expert Petter S. Skinstad agrees that it is problematic with dominance from one country for a long time, but:
– There will still be different skis, slips and access to skis. With 100 runners, there will be 100 different results, even with the same glider, topping and lubrication. Most of the difference will lie in the pair of skis themselves, the expert believes.
While Nordvall believes the solution is joint lubrication, Stensbøl believes it is not necessarily the right way to go.
– Top sport is competition. It is the nature of sport to compete. Should one then put the foot down on some elements and say that there should be no competition here? asks the former top sports director.
Skinstad also believes that dominance is about more than lubrication.
– It is a great proposal, but it will in no way ensure that all skiers become equally good or remove the difference between the nations.
NOT THE SOLUTION: Petter Soleng Skinstad is TV2’s cross-country expert. He believes that foreign athletes have a lot to do to challenge the Norwegians. Photo: Yngve Sem Pedersen / TV 2
Should look towards Norway
He highlights several reasons why Norway in particular is ahead of several other countries in cross-country skiing right now.
– First and foremost, foreigners must train as well as the Norwegians. They don’t do that today, that’s a fact. We must invite them to meetings and seminars and share the knowledge we have, says Skinstad, and continues:
– Then they have models where they start selecting runners from the age of 12-13, completely contrary to the Norwegian sports model and it does not work to bring out breadth. There are many things the sport needs to work on. Having the best possible skis for the most runners is one of those things, but that alone will not save the sport.
