The skis of the Swedish rides has been a recurring topic of discussion during the season and not least during the winter’s Tour de Ski. The most notable boom came at 20 kilometers in freestyle in Toblach where Ebba Andersson ended almost three minutes later and got his tour ruined.
She now says that she felt a frustration during the season around the material.
– It has affected me more than it should do, what you want it to do.
Prior to the season, the Swedish poppy team, according to information to SVT Sport, had a clear strategy where it was chosen to invest hard on four own structure on the skis instead of choosing freely from different factory marks.
“Understood what we meant”
A venture that did not work according to several riders.
The embankment team has backed and become more open to using the ski marks’ factory -cut structures. A change that took place after a meeting between the riders and the ramparts after the Tour de Ski.
– Of course, it is positive, then they have understood a bit what we mean, says Edvin Anger, who thinks the problems are marked up in the Alps on the dry snow.
– We have not really been competitive in those conditions. They have learned that there may be something else that we have access to that is better. It is quite obvious that then we have to use it until we find something better ourselves.
The decision is also welcomed by Ebba Andersson.
– It has been necessary to find solutions to get out of the problem that has been. We have had an ongoing dialogue.
When asked if there is any concern for the World Cup in Norwegian Trondheim, she answers:
– Here and now I still choose to see the hopes, and not any question marks. You really need to carry that in your back when you are now going into a championship.
Svanebo’s response
The Valla chief Anders Svanebo believes that the issue is greater, and that the structure is only a part.
The embankment team must have invested in its own structures to have more control and be able to get better skis than competitors.
– If you have, like everyone else, you may never have better than anyone else either. We work on our strengths and weaknesses all the time and have an ongoing dialogue with the riders.
National team manager Anders Byström believes that he has full confidence in the process and the embankment team.
– They have done some extra interventions in the last few weeks which are a little secret. They have acted in many different ways. I hope it generates in something good in Trondheim.