– I have deleted many comments about people who say they are going to bow. It is almost as if there is a call for a demonstration, Gorm Johansson told news. He runs the “Page for us who are fond of Norwegian ski jumping and combined” on Facebook – a page with just over 5,000 followers. In addition, he is the father of ski jumper Robert Johansson. He says that “spoiled bastards”, “damn idiots” and “snørnargar” are some of the things the mares are hanged for. In the end, he saw no other way out than to close down the comment section. CLOSED DOWN: Gorm Johansson had to close down the Facebook group after gross harassment of the show jumpers. Photo: Privat / – We closed it because of regular harassment and completely beyond comments. Serious harassment. It has been absolutely terrible. I can tolerate comments that are negative towards the boys, but it must be factual, says Johansson. At most, he had to spend two to three hours a day deleting unsavory comments. Last Monday, he deleted 50 comments on a post. – When grown people say such things, they have no business in a comment field. I wonder if they are actually interested in ski jumping or if they are just internet trolls. Not hoping for a pipe concert The reason for the anger is that after the WC in Kulm, the jumpers wrote a letter to their jumping committee leader and expressed dissatisfaction with national team coach Alexander Stöckl. REPRESENTATIVE: Johann André Forfang is a trustee for the Norwegian show jumpers. Photo: LEONHARD FOEGER / Reuters At the weekend, the men will jump on Norwegian soil for the first time after the row, when the Raw Air circus gets underway with qualification in Holmenkollen on Friday. – I don’t think we will be booed, at least I hope we won’t be booed, says last year’s World Cup winner Halvor Egner Granerud to news. Also in the group “Støtte for Hoppløftet” on Facebook with over 50,000 committed jumping enthusiasts, there has been a hail of angry comments. They were the first page to have to shut down their comment section. HARD CHANGE OF WORDS: Here is an extract of the comments that have been published on the online forum. Photo: Elisabeth Nielsen Haugen / Illustration The support goes primarily to national team coach Alexander Stöckl and outgoing sporting director Clas Brede Bråthen. In addition to the jumpers, the criticism also goes towards the management of the Norwegian Skiing Association and head of the jumping committee Stine Korsen. Tiresome situation – It is clear that it is not desirable for it to storm so much and be so noisy, says Granerud. He adds that he has used those around him to share his thoughts about the noise. – I feel that we are largely able to focus on and jump on skis when we are on the slopes, but it is clear that it is a tiring situation for everyone involved. The jumpers have not wanted to elaborate on what the conflict is about, with the exception of the statement trustee Johann André Forfang gave, when the matter exploded in the media: “We can confirm that the athletes together have sent a letter to the jumping committee after the World Skiing Championships. This is not about results. The timing is about the fact that we believe this cannot wait until the spring, as we want to put together a new team for the WC season.” Will not answer whether Stöckl can maintain Granerud is concerned that the conflict must be resolved through talking together and does not want the debate to take place in the media. Stöckl has not been with the show jumpers on tour in the last month, but the show jumpers and the national team coach had a meeting at Gardermoen to talk things out, after the show jumpers returned home from races in Japan and the USA. TRUST: Halvor Egner Granerud will not answer whether he thinks Alexander Stöckl can return as national team coach. Photo: Håvard Greger Hagen / news Granerud will not elaborate on how the dialogue is today. – I feel I have spoken to the people I should speak to up to several times. Just have to find a solution, he replies to news. – Is it out of the question that Stöckl will come back? – I don’t know that. I don’t really want to speculate on those things or say anything special about it. Clas Brede Braathen wrote in an SMS to news that he has plans to be present during this year’s Raw Air on home soil. National team coach Alexander Stöckl states that the situation is currently not clear for him.
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Being harassed and threatened with a boycott: – Hope we don’t get booed
