PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Norwegian cross-country skier Kristine Stavås Skistad has opted out of the national team.
In Norway, her decision is questioned, but Linn Svahn and Jonna Sundling back the Norwegian.
– That’s the way she wants to go and you should follow your heart, says Sundling.
After the breakthrough, a couple of heavy seasons awaited Kristine Stavå’s Ski City. The reasons he and she have been secretive about, but illnesses and the mental part must have played a role. This spring, Skistad was back with full karate, after the WC she was the World Cup’s skater-to-beat in the sprint.
Criticism of Stavås Skistad
Skistad has opted out of the Norwegian national team to invest in its own business and training. A decision that has been questioned in Norway.
– It’s a bit surprising and a bit of a shame. I think both she and the other girls in the team would have benefited from being together, says the former Norwegian national team coach Ole Morten Iversen to Nettavisen.
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If you ask the Swedish ski stars, however, Skistad gets support.
– I think you have to choose your line and your own path and follow it all the way to the end. It suits different riders at different times in their career to be in a team or drive with their own team, and if she thinks that’s the best way for her to develop, I just think it’s good that she makes that decision, says Lynn Svahn at a press conference.
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Sundling’s support
Svahn himself was outside the national team last year together with Frida Karlsson and Maja Dahlqvist.
– Last year, I and a few others felt that it was important to stand on the sidelines to get the ultimate exchange. This year it’s completely the other way around, and that’s how it is – it goes in waves in the career. I don’t think that says much about the Norwegian federation per se, but I just think that she is willing to go her own way, Svahn continues.
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Jonna Sundling she also supports Skistad’s choice, while at the same time she believes that it can harm the Norwegian national team that the Norwegian is outside of it.
– That’s the way she wants to go, and you have to follow your heart. We’ve had the same incidents where riders want to go and test their own routes and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. But it is very good to be able to have a complete national team, of course, says Sundling.
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Svahn’s tribute
Regardless, the Swedes expect Skistad to be a tough competitor next season.
– I absolutely believe that she will be dangerous based on her history last year. It will be exciting to see where she stands and how we stand against her, and everyone else of course, says Sundling.
Svahn agrees.
– She impressed incredibly last year, especially after the WC, so I think she is tough. It will be exciting to see how the season turns out, but I don’t think it’s anyone you can count out of any competition, especially not the sprints.
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