Several cross-country nations are struggling financially.
In Norwegian VG, veterans and stars are now appealing for change.
– It feels like a dying sport, says sprint star Lucas Chanavat.
Trond Nystad is a well-known profile in cross-country skiing. He has been a national team coach for Norway, Switzerland, the USA and Austria, and thus should have a pretty good grasp of what he is talking about. And he is not at all happy with the development of the sport in recent years. More and more countries are struggling financially, and it is difficult with the regrowth of riders.
Now requires change
Especially in the traditionally smaller ski nations, such as Great Britain, Slovakia and Italy. NOW Nystad is demanding change, and is asking the cross-country skiers to look at biathlon, which has taken enormous strides in recent years – both financially and in terms of interest.
– The International Biathlon Union has done a very good job with the TV contracts, and takes responsibility for small nations to receive support. Biathlon has come much further than cross-country skiing has, says Nystad to VG.
In Norway, it has been noticed how interest in the biggest cross-country stars has decreased in competition with other sports. At the same time, Great Britain, for example, is in the middle of an economic crisis in its national cross-country team. Lucas Chanavat, from France, is one of the world’s top sprinters, and senses what is about to happen.
– Now long distance feels like a dying sport. We fight in several countries. It is a complex issue, but we must look for solutions because it is a must to find the answers, he says.
“We have to take it seriously”
Everyone seems to agree that something needs to happen – but opinions about how to save cross-country skiing differ. Johannes Kläbo, perhaps the biggest star of all in the sport, has previously said that people should take after cycling, and compete in sponsored stables – and for their countries at championships.
– There is a lot that you can take away from the bike. It is at least something to discuss between the nations to find solutions, says Lucas Chanavat.
Even Andrew Musgrave, star of the Great Britain national team, believes that something needs to happen, and he notices a big difference in the interest from just a few years ago.
– It seems that the interest is less than a few years ago. It’s never a good sign that viewership drops, we have to take that seriously. We have to offer a product that people look at.
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