Oslo’s Holmenkollen will host a women’s 50-kilometer cross-country ski race at the World Cup for the second time in history on Saturday. However, it has spoken in advance. For example, several Norwegian skiers have been of the opinion that women should not ski 50 kilometers in the World Cup.
Heidi Weng said to NRK, that long ski trips should be saved for the marathon skiing series Ski Classics. Also Mathilde Myhrvold was critical of the fifties.
According to NRK, in a survey conducted in 2018, only 8.1 percent of female skiers wanted the same Ski Trips as men. However, the international skiing federation FIS decided in 2022 that women’s and men’s competition distances will be the same length.
Last year’s historic women’s 50km World Cup race had only 32 competitors. Of these, 12 were Norwegians. Now there are 39 names on the starting list of the competition.
All World Cup competitors will therefore be able to get World Cup points on Saturday, as the top 50 will get points. The difference is big compared to the traditional men’s race. FIS competition manager Michal Lamplot told NRK that 74 competitors have registered for the men’s competition.
So does the legendary race make sense for women?
NRK’s skiing commentator Jan Post reminds that in last year’s fifties, the fear of the competition’s entertainment value was pointless.
– There was a fear that the differences would become too big. However, the competition was exciting and entertaining, Post reminds.
In his opinion, the Holmenkollen women’s race can be even more interesting than the men’s race, because Norwegian women are not currently dominating the World Cup races like the men.
– Women can ski 50 kilometers and have been able to for 100 years. Now the women’s races are even more exciting than the men’s. There are Finns, Americans, Swedes and Germans in the top fight. It is probably the best race of the weekend, Post reminds.
Last year in Norway Raghnild Haga won the freestyle race after some interesting stages..
Finnish skiers excited
Krista Pärmäkoski and Johanna Matintalo are among the skiers who are now happy to race 50 kilometers at Holmenkollen for the first time. Pärmäkoski competed in Lapponia skiing last year. It consists of 60 km, 50 km and 80 km races on three different days.
Konkari admits that he is excited about Holmenkollen’s fifty.
– I skied in Lapland for a longer distance, but maybe a little in the camping mood. This race will be of a different type, Pärmäkoski tells .
Matintalo has once skied a forty kilometer race for fun in Rovaniemi.
– We are really in new waters. Exciting and horrifying. However, the condition has been good lately. I believe that we will get through this when the body and skis play, Matintalo tells .
Pärmäkoski thinks it’s nice to be able to ski a 50 km race in the World Cup.
– Maybe the question is, is this the right time for it? There are a lot of races around here. I understand that it doesn’t make sense for those competing in the overall cup or the sprint cup to come and ski here. Here, for example, there are still a couple of sprints left on a fast schedule, Pärmäkoski refers to next Tuesday’s Drammen sprint and next Friday’s Falun sprint.
– It’s pretty clear to me myself that this Hollenkollen race requires recovery. Already last weekend in Lahti demanded it. If this was the last race of the season, I would bet that this would gather more participants, says Pärmäkoski.
In Matintalo’s opinion, one fifty kilometer race won’t spoil anyone’s path.
– The men’s fifty at Holmenkollen is so legendary that it’s great when women get to ski it for the first time on a traditional one. This is such a once in a lifetime experience. If you’re a skier and haven’t skied Holmenkollen for fifty years, can you say you’re a skier? Matintalo questioned.
He reminded how next year there will be no skiing at Holmenkollen due to the nearby World Cup in Trondheim.
– How do you know where the world is going? Will we ever ski this again? I personally feel that skiing this on traditional can be a unique experience, Matintalo said.
Should I ask this again after the race?
– Of course, it could be that I am satisfied after the race, that this will never be skied again, Matintalo threw, until he confidently ended his speech with a laugh.
– Call me crazy, but this is an experience!
Refueling makes me think
Matintalo and Pärmäkoski both highlighted energy supply as a significant issue for Saturday.
– I have tried to eat a little more during the week so that my body is full of energy. At least you wouldn’t leave with empty energy, Pärmäkoski says and says that he discussed the activities during the competition with the national team’s nutritionist Kaisa Salin with.
50 kilometers are contested on an 8.3 kilometer run.
– I drink twice during the round. There should be a sports gel in every other drink. Then you would get enough carbohydrates. I’m anxiously waiting to see how my stomach holds up. I have such a sensitive stomach. Will it come up or not? Hopefully they will absorb it, Pärmäkoski said and planned to keep a steady pace and take Kiri at the end of the race.
The victory of the 20 km traditional race in Lahti gives Pärmäkoski the feeling that he can enjoy Saturday’s race at Holmenkollen.
– There is no need to show anything anymore. Everything is possible, Pärmäkoski summarizes.
Matintalo, who ranked fifth in Lahti’s twenties, has also had problems with energy supply.
– It is really difficult to say what is the optimal amount for me to eat before the race. There have also been a lot of horror stories about overfilling. Then you won’t go anywhere, says Matintalo.
– There are more variables in the race than in a normal race. I hope everything works out. I believe that this way the result will be good.