– We asked the other nations who were going here if it was possible to hitchhike a bit. It worked out and was very comfortable for us, says Ane Appelkvist Stenseth to news. The Trønder did not take part in Friday’s mixed relay in Goms, Switzerland, but together with five teammates she traveled directly to the weekend’s World Cup race at her own expense. HIKING: Ane Appelkvist Stenseth and several of the Norwegian athletes hitchhiked to the World Cup weekend in Goms. Photo: LAURENT GILLIERON / AP Following the World Cup races in Oberhof last weekend, the official itinerary under the auspices of the Norwegian Ski Association went home to Norway, before a large part of the squad traveled back down to Goms. 16 of the 21 runners who took part in Oberhof were also selected for the World Cup races in Goms. However, six of them chose to skip the flight home and go straight to Switzerland instead. All of the four Norwegian women who took part in Friday’s relay, where Sweden made a big splash and relegated Norway 1 to third place, traveled directly from Oberhof to Goms. The journey between Oberhof and Goms takes around eight hours by car. Together with Tiril Udnes Weng, Stenseth worked with the French team. – It was very kind and it was a good car trip. They are perhaps more used to the roads here than we are, so it was a pleasant journey, says Stenseth. Had to pay myself National team coordinator Ulf Morten Aune says that there were discussions about how they should lay out the plan throughout the summer and autumn of last year. NATIONAL TEAM COORDINATOR: Ulf Morten Aune Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB – Earlier this autumn, the decision was made to return home after Oberhof. If someone wanted to sort themselves out, they have, as was done last season, then it is entirely up to them to do it, he says. – Did they finance it themselves? – Yes, that’s the “deal” we have when we have a trip that goes home and they choose to stay. We also did that last season, says Aune. The fact that the runners had to cover travel and accommodation themselves, until the rest of the Ski Association’s squad arrived in Switzerland on Wednesday, causes news’s cross-country expert, Therese Johaug, to react. – I’m a bit surprised that the Skiing Association chose that solution and I’m surprised that they didn’t see this before the season came, that it could have been an option to travel further, because all other nations do it. – Then I am also a bit surprised that the athletes themselves will have to pay for their stay from Oberhof until the official arrangement starts from the Ski Association’s side, Johaug continues. Johaug: – The total load will be too great In addition to Stenseth and Udnes Weng, Mathilde Myhrvold, Margrethe Bergane, Maria Hartz Melling and Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs also got a ride south to Switzerland. Myhrvold started with its own equipment supplier. – For my part, I thought it was the most optimal, as there was such a short time at home. That it wasn’t worth it to get the two extra travel days by plane and such. In addition to the fact that there is a bit of height here, it was a good solution, I think, says Myhrvold to news. Johaug is clear that she understands that the athletes wanted to go straight to Switzerland. – If I were an athlete myself and had to go at medium altitude, as was the case in Goms, I would have gone straight from Oberhof to Goms. It is a bit in terms of the total load. There are an insane number of ski races the athletes go on a day. It is a tough program going forward, says Johaug. She continues: – It’s about saving energy and strength where you can save, and not least being able to prepare optimally at altitude. By traveling home to Norway and then back down, you expose yourself to illness, that you become tired and the total load becomes too great. – Regarding what has been decided National team coordinator Aune says that it was an overall assessment that was the basis for the official itinerary. He points out that the two individual chutes in Oberhof were both in classical style, while the two individual chutes in Goms are both in free technique. Furthermore, the cross-country management was unsure about the strain after the Tour de Ski. The race weekend in Oberhof was the first in the World Cup after the end of the Tour de Ski. When asked about the criticism that the athletes had to cover travel and accommodation from Oberhof to Goms themselves, he replies: – This was decided in the autumn. Then we relate to what we have decided. Then everyone knows that here we have had different opinions, and then it will be like this, he says. Had favorable flight tickets The Ski Association has seen itself forced to make several cuts due to a challenging financial situation in the past year. Mathilde Myhrvold says she understands that they themselves had to cover travel and accommodation outside of the official trip. – Yes, the way it is now and the situation is like this, I think it’s going well. – By the situation, do you mean the financial situation the Ski Association is in? – Yes, I think so. According to Aune, the union’s financial situation was not the main reason for the chosen itinerary. – Do you save any money by traveling home and not directly here to Goms? – It depends on what we pay for the plane tickets. At that time we had very favorable tickets, both to Frankfurt and afterwards to Zurich, he says. Demonstrators occupied the finish area in Schladming 00:41 – I just wanted to jump to my death 00:58 Here it almost goes wrong – Pictures from TV 2 00:34 Vetle Sjåstad Christansen has also copied a “master” 00:44 Show more
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Hitchhiked to the World Cup race at his own expense
