Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson dominated during the premiere weekend.
Now they are both rewarded.
The duo collected almost a million kroner for their efforts.
Frida Karlsson went into the new season with great expectations and hopes. She chose to leave the national team in the spring for a venture on her own, and reports on her form have thus been few. But she has said she felt strong – and she certainly proved it during the premiere weekend in Ruka.
Incredible money rain
Karlsson was good during Friday’s opening sprint, but was not close to threatening podium places. On Saturday, she was somewhat unexpectedly beaten by Ebba Andersson in the 10 kilometer race, but on Sunday revenge came. Karlsson won the chase start in completely superior style, and after the performance she was compared to Therese Johaug herself.
The start of the season could hardly have been better from a Swedish point of view. Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson looked unthreatened, and it could be a fun season to say the least for our Swedish stars. And it also makes a big dent in the wallet. A first place in a World Cup competition gives a bonus of SEK 50,000 from the Swedish Skiing Association. A second place earns SEK 30,000.
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“Got to solve it somehow”
This means that Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson – who won one competition each, and came second in one competition each – received SEK 80,000 each in pure bonus money during the weekend. In addition, both drew in 285,000 kroner each in prize money from Fis, according to Expressen. The weekend’s bravado therefore means that Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson pulled in 365,000 kroner each. Should the season continue like this, it could be a fun winter for the star duo…
In February, the WC also begins, and according to Expressen, the bonus there from the ski association is greatly increased. A WC gold would give 150,000 kroner in bonus, silver 75,000 kroner and bronze 50,000 kroner.
The association is now afraid that the budget it set will burst if Sweden continues to be so superior.
– But I have to solve that somehow, says cross country manager Lars Öberg to the evening newspaper, and continues:
– It’s still a pleasant question.
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