Emil Moore-Carlsen has big dreams in cross-country skiing. The 17-year-old loves being out on the slopes and hopes to one day win a medal in the Paralympics. As a blind person, Moore-Carlsen still depends on help on the way to the goal. For the Fossum runner, it is crucial that he always has a companion with him on a cross-country trip, but the talented 17-year-old constantly experiences that there is no one who can accompany him in training or competition. – There is no hiding the fact that it is an obstacle. Suddenly someone is standing there without a companion, and that’s a problem. It has meant that I have had to do a lot of alternative training, which is not desirable, Moore-Carlsen, who competes in the B1 class, tells news. Classification in parasport Internationally, there is competition in three different categories within parasport. Visual impairment: B1-3 Standing mobility impairment: LW2-9 Sitting mobility impairment: LW10-12 Emil Moore-Carlsen is completely blind and therefore classified as a B1 athlete. Visually impaired people are classified from B1 to B3 depending on how much sight they have. There have been many lonely sessions on the treadmill or bicycle in the childhood home. Advisor to the Skiing Association Anne Ragnhild Kroken says that there is a great shortage of escorts in Norway, something that could affect Norway’s future stars. – We are struggling to get hold of escorts. And it certainly doesn’t just apply to cross-country skiing. If we are going to bring up new athletes for the national team, we are dependent on support staff, she says. – I’ve heard of athletes who didn’t care anymore and have given up because they can’t get a companion, says Moore-Carlsen. ACCOMPANYING PERSON: Here, Emil Moore-Carlsen has an accompanying person with him on the trip. The companion goes to the front. Rest in peace His mother, Linda Moore-Carlsen, says that it is also “deeply sad” for parents that their son does not get to train. – It has happened many times that we have had a disappointed boy who is fully dressed and ready for training, but who does not get out because the companion has been ill or cannot come anyway. It is boring when he has set aside the evening to train. He wants to meet the boys instead of being alone on a treadmill or bicycle, she says. The family has applied to Bærum municipality for user-directed personal assistance (BPA) in the hope of getting a more permanent companion, but was refused. Thus, it has been up to the family themselves to find someone who can be with Emil. In cross-country skiing, the job of the accompanying person is mainly to lead and instruct the athlete and tell them what the course is like. Emil Moore-Carlsen believes that the main reason why he does not get hold of anyone is that many simply do not know about the possibility. – I also think many people think it’s scary to be a companion, but it may sound more difficult than it actually is, he says. DOWNHILL: Especially on downhill slopes, it is important that Moore-Carlsen receives good instructions and good help from the companion. When he was younger, it was easier to get hold of accompanying persons, but over the years Moore-Carlsen has become very quick in his tracks. He attends the sports program at Dønski secondary school, which has arranged for him to be accompanied during school. Once the school day is over, problems often arise. Moore-Carlsen hopes that some of the many fit cross-country runners in Norway will see being a companion as an extra opportunity to get out and train. – When you start betting, it becomes more difficult, and fewer people are able to keep up. Then you depend on someone who has been active themselves, but often they have their own venture, or they have other things that crash, says the 17-year-old. Program for the ski WC for para athletes Saturday 21 January: 10.30am: Biathlon, 7.5 kilometres, seated. 12.40 p.m.: Biathlon, 7.5 kilometers, standing 2.30 p.m.: Biathlon, 7.5 kilometers visually impaired Sunday 22 January: 9.30 a.m.: Cross-country skiing, 18 kilometers, seated 12 p.m.: Cross-country skiing, 18 kilometers, men, standing 2 p.m.: Cross-country skiing, 18 kilometer women, standing Tuesday 24 January: 12.30 p.m.: Cross-country skiing, sprint, prologue 3.35 p.m.: Cross-country skiing, sprint, finals Wednesday 25 January: 09.30 a.m.: Biathlon, 10 kilometres, sitting 12:00 p.m.: Biathlon, 10 kilometers, standing 1:50 p.m.: Biathlon, 10 kilometers, visually impaired Friday 27 January: 10:00 a.m.: Biathlon, 12.5 kilometers, seated 12:00 p.m.: Biathlon, 12.5 kilometers, standing 14: Biathlon, 12.5 kilometres, visually impaired Saturday 28 January: 12:00 p.m.: Cross-country skiing, 10 kilometer free technique, women, standing 1.30 p.m. Cross-country skiing, 10 kilometer free technique, men, standing 15:00: Cross-country skiing, 10 kilometer free technique , sitting Sunday 29 January: 10 am: Cross-country skiing, mixed relay, 4 x 2.5 km 12 pm: Cross-country skiing, open relay, 4 x 2.5 km Challenging Northug and Sundby Swedish Zebastia n Modin, like Moore-Carlsen, is completely blind. He also competes in the B1 class and is among the world’s best para-cross-country skiers. Modin has had real star help along the way and has, among other things, had Olympic medalists Emil Jönsson and Daniel Rickardsson as companions. WILL BE CHALLENGED: Petter Northug. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Now Moore-Carlsen sends a small challenge to some former Norwegian cross-country heroes. – It would have been cool if someone who has previously been on the national team would join, such as Petter Northug or Martin Johnsrud Sundby. I would like to turn to the big stars and ask if they would like to join a session. Gets support from Swedish Olympic hero Rickardsson says that he was asked by the Swedish Skiing Association if he wanted to be Modin’s companion. He knew the role well through people like Jönsson and thinks it is a very rewarding job. – I get a lot of good training from it. It is also very educational and an opportunity to give back to someone who needs it. Zebastian is a skilled cross-country runner and needs someone who can go fast, says the Olympic winner from Vancouver and Sochi. Rickardsson says that it is almost a full-time job to be a follower and believes that the challenge is to find someone who is good enough to follow, but who does not invest actively themselves. He believes that Northug and Sundby should give it a try. – Yes, why not? But it has to work out with the rest of their cabal. Many people use two companions to get enough training, says the Swede. – It is a real problem Moore-Carlsen is supported by the only responsible athlete on the para-cross-country team, Thomas Oxaal. His accomplice Geir Lervik has been given a sportsman’s contract through the association and is appointed as Oxaal’s BPA. NATIONAL TEAM PERFORMER: Thomas Oxaal participated in the WC in snow sports for para athletes. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB But the national team player knows very well that not everyone is as lucky. – The lack of attendants is a real problem. There are many good skiers in Norway, but it is not so easy to get people to prioritize becoming a companion or to want to do it. Emil, who is completely blind, is completely dependent on it, says Oxaal. news broadcasts the WC in snow sports for para athletes 21-29. January.
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Blind Emil (17) asks for help – sends a challenge to Northug
