After becoming a double Norwegian champion and winning the most competitive competition in Europe, 26-year-old Anniken Kristiansen Steen from Hamar is now trying her hand in frisbee golf’s homeland, the USA. While interest has exploded in Norway in recent years, the sport has been big in the States for many years. After a few weeks among the best players in the world, she has collected several good positions in the highest ranked tournament in frisbee golf, the ProTour. At the weekend, she finished fifth in the ProTourens tournament in Waco, where she competed against the very best players in the world. – The reason why I will compete much more in the USA this year is to have even stronger competition and develop myself further as a performer, Steen tells news. Until this year, she has financed most of her venture herself, alongside her full-time job. But in February she got her first major sponsorship contract. – Thanks to my sponsors, I have now been given the opportunity to turn my lifestyle and hobby into a job that allows me to travel more than before. Believes Norwegian frisbee golf maintains a high level Erik Hammer Staalesen is development manager for disc sports in the Norwegian American Sports Confederation. He pays tribute to Steen’s venture into the USA and says Norwegians do not understand how great the achievements of the 26-year-old are. – It is an adventure. It is difficult to come from wintry Norway and then perform so well in the USA immediately afterwards, says Staalesen. He points out that Steen, together with Lykke Sandvik from Tønsberg, who also plays in the USA at the moment, is helping to drive the level of Norwegian frisbee golf up. IMPRESSED: Staalesen says it is a great achievement to compete at the top level in the USA. Several Norwegians have tried their hand among the world’s elite in the past, but no one has managed to make the big breakthrough yet, he says. Photo: Espen Håkonsen – The level in Norway is getting very good by the day – both among players, on courses and with the organisers. In the summer, two so-called Eurotours will be played in Norway. Then some of the best players in the world come to Krokhol and Øverås, says Staalesen. – It’s like getting Tiger Woods to Norway, he says about the level of the tournaments. Do you play frisbee golf? Yes, I love it! No, but I want to try. No, it’s uninteresting to me. Show result – The sky is the limit Steen’s club in Hamar is also impressed by the results she has to show from the USA in recent weeks. – We are incredibly proud of what Anniken achieves on a daily basis and are excited about how she will develop further, says Hamar frisbee club manager Thorbjørn Viberg. He points out that Steen has laid the foundations for her venture on her own together with those close to her, and says that it is extra impressive that she is now succeeding on a worldwide basis. – She plays with the biggest rock stars in the USA now, it’s really big. Viberg believes Steen is good enough to fight for a top 10 position worldwide. – The sky is the limit, he smiles. BETTER: After several years in the Norwegian Elite, Steen still does not see it as realistic to play Frisbee golf full-time. That’s why she works daily as an accounting consultant at home in Hamar.Anniken Steen/Instagram Bets on podiums Steen was introduced to frisbee golf by an acquaintance in 2015. A few years later, she decided to bet fully. Now the plan is to work towards top 10 positions in the Protouren and to defend the NM title. – Then there is the EC this year also in Estonia, where the goal is a podium place. Some of the best players in the world are European, so taking the podium will be a very strong achievement, says Steen.
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Anniken Kristiansen Steen impresses as a frisbee golfer in the world’s elite – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
