The time for Clas Brede Bråthen’s public outbursts against pretty much everyone else who is not specifically involved in jumping in the Ski Association is immediately over. The frustration over the sporting director’s many outbursts has reached a point where even the jumpers themselves obviously believe the situation is unlivable, even in the short term. Seen from the outside, it has been much more surprising that the same jumpers have also had enough of their outwardly praised trainer Alexander Stöckl. Here, too, the internal wear and tear has proven to go too far. The Austrian is, despite his contract until 2026, effectively finished as national team coach. Underpinned by a letter from the jumpers with very sharp criticism of the management style over a number of years. The question is whether the dismissal will be effected now or after the season. And why the dissatisfaction is being expressed to such an extent right now. OVER AND OUT?: By all accounts, Alexander Stöckl has finished his job as showjumping coach for Norway. Photo: Aleksandr Nedbaev / news The new queen The obvious key person here is called Stine Korsen and is head of the Jumping Committee. Where Clas Brede Bråthen has both appeared as and in reality has been Norway’s most powerful show jumping team for a number of years, there is also no doubt that Korsen has now taken the throne. This has been consolidated through active presence and fraternization at international competitions recently. And has led to an obvious confidence among the jumpers. While the former responsible, Stöckl and Bråthen, are now parked at home in Norway. Probably too good, in this context. The frustrations over time have been too great – and obviously not just over the particularly vocal sports manager from Mjøndalen. Therein also lies an obvious change in the internal alliances. Where Korsen has long appeared in opposition to the management, primarily ski president Tove Moe Dyrhaug and general secretary Arne Baumann, they are now apparently united in their desire to move from recycling to brutal clean-up. Also the latter with an obviously positive potential when it comes to the internal climate. Possibly Korsen has realized that the critical financial situation in the association – and for the jumping section in particular – requires new solutions. And new signals to the outside world and potential sponsors and investors in a sport that has long moved in a fog of scandal that has removed the focus from the sporting side. THANK YOU AND GOODBYE: Stine Korsen gave Clas Brede Bråthen a hug at the press conference where he said he was leaving his position as sporting director. Photo: NTB A crown prince out of the shadows After a very disappointing season so far, the jumpers are already on their way, where the sporting responsibility is taken care of by the obvious candidate to take over as national team coach, namely current assistant coach Magnus Brevig. Where many expected Stöckl to step out of Bråthen’s partial shadow and take over as sporting director, it is instead his assistant coach of 13 years who appears to be the one left behind as Den Neste, regardless of who takes over the top responsibility that sports manager when Clas Brede Bråthen disappears. HEIR?: Magnus Brevig together with national team manager Alexander Stöckl. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB In addition, Dagbladet reports late on Thursday that Bråthen’s close partner in recent years, marketing manager Arne Åbråten, is also giving up. And with that completes a purge so effective that several Soviet leaders would probably nod in approval. DONE: Arne Årbråten will not renew the contract with the union. Photo: NTB The exhalation from the Ski Association’s management is probably so deeply relieved that it can give the jumpers much-needed buoyancy for the rest of the season. The changes in the power relations in Hopp-Norge offer the potential for a completely new working environment. They obviously intend to use it effectively. The troublesome public While the attention of the public is directed towards the ongoing jumping conflict, the Ski Board gathered for one of its board meetings this same Thursday. On the case map were a couple of items that were as apparently technical as they are interesting in principle. One concerns what should be included in the minutes from the board meetings. And through that is shared with the public. The constant disagreements in the board in recent years have obviously irritated the administration. Now they wanted to obscure the internal discussions. And in that way dampen the attention the disagreement within the board has received. In particular from us in the media. As an example, the minutes from the last board meeting in December have still not been published. Or for what we know has been adopted. Thus, we still know just as little about the kind of discussions that have taken place around the much talked about and unclear national team agreements, which have been an inflamed topic for a strikingly long time. GENERAL SECRETARY: Arne Baumann. Photo: NTB The fact that Secretary-General Arne Baumann thought it was a good and conciliatory idea to appoint himself head of the committee that will look with fresh and constructive eyes at the disputed agreements has not exactly helped to move the process forward either. Nor is it certain that a lesser degree of openness on the part of the skiing board is the best signal to send to the outside world in the pressured situation the whole sport is in right now. But that’s how it turned out, which is interesting at best. And otherwise just disturbing. While there is still a deadline in mind The second proposal, with a not inconsiderable interest in principle, was about something as formal as the right to propose to the board meetings. And before you all fall off, I’m going to go so far as to say this is a potential centralization of power in the president and the administration at the expense of the elected board. And also completely contrary to the signals the Ski Association should be sending to its members. Until now, there was a four-day deadline for submitting matters to the board meetings. The administration now wanted to increase it to ten days. In order to have more time to prepare the case complexes, they themselves thought. Or to prepare counter-arguments, well-intentioned critics will probably claim. At the same time, the deadline for calling the meetings, which rests supremely with the president, obviously remains at four days. Without it being completely easy to see how these deadlines are then to be exercised at the same time. Such an extension of the deadline for proposing matters to the board meetings will limit the opportunity to raise relevant matters. Like the position of Alexander Stöckl. Or the threat of a breach with FIS. Or all the due dates for Ski Norway’s big NM party at Beitostølen. Or the NM gold for Sofie Nordsveen Hustad. Or the worries about the finances of next year’s World Ski Championships. The latter still under the “Possibly” category. If it is reported in time, please note.
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