– It was only the eyes that were ice cold, so I didn’t really see anything, says a cold Mari Leinan Lund to news. The 24-year-old finished third and ensured a Norwegian triple in Friday’s World Cup opening in the combined, but had major problems with his vision on the cross-country track at Lillehammer. – It was just that everything was very unclear. I just gave up really trying to see and tried to stay on my feet, she continues. The combined profile says that she could only see the contours of the competitors and after the finish several of the Norwegian athletes held their faces before they immediately moved towards the warm-up tent. – I got a buff and stillongs and all the pressure above my head, so I got to warm up again, says Lund. – I don’t see how steep the hill is – It must be that the body goes into high gear from the morning. We have been to the jumping hill and froze a lot there. Then you get here, and then there wasn’t much time to warm up. You kind of get a little cold throughout the day, says teammate Gyda Westvold Hansen, who also won her 18th straight World Cup victory, to news. Before Friday’s competition in Lillehammer, according to Yr, the thermometer showed -11 degrees and Ida Marie Hagen, who followed in second place, says that she has experienced problems in the cold in the past, but avoided trouble on Friday. – I think I managed quite well with the headband going down over my eyes, Hagen says to news, before she continues: – I don’t need to see that much. You just have to go fast. It’s almost okay not to look, because then you don’t see how steep the hill is. The Ski Association’s medical officer, Ola Rønsen, believes the dry air is the cause of the vision problems. – It is the combined cold and dry air that causes the eyes to dry out a little and then increases tear production as a counter-reaction to protect. Then there will be more tear production than there is usually, says Rønsen to news. NOT DANGEROUS: The Ski Association’s medical officer, Ola Rønsen, says that the cause of the vision problems is the cold and dry air. Photo: Anders Brekke / news – Is it dangerous? – No, it turns into a race that lasts for five or ten kilometres, so then nothing can happen. But without glasses for an hour or more, it can be the case that you are irritated for a day or two afterwards. On such a short course as it was today, it has no effect after an hour or two. Extended winning streak Westvold Hansen laid the foundations for another World Cup victory after the jumping section and finished 18 seconds ahead of Leinan Lund. WIN: Gyda Westvold Hansen won her 18th straight World Cup victory in the season opener at Lillehammer. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB Hagen, however, had enormous speed in the track, but Westvold Hansen held off and the WC queen won the season’s first World Cup race for the female combined athletes. – It was bad hospitality from Norway. Very strong performances, both on the ground and on the track. It is very impressive, says sports manager Ivar Stuan to news. Westvold Hansen has won all the World Cup races she has entered in the last three seasons.
ttn-69
Got trouble with my vision in the blast cold:
