20Jan 2018 by DS News Team
“I Wil Be Back” Writes Johaug, Gets Golden Commemorative Coin “To Give Her Further Motivation”

“I Wil Be Back” Writes Johaug, Gets Golden Commemorative Coin “To Give Her Further Motivation”

Leaders, Newsfeed
Therese Johaug is out of the PyeongChang Olympics – but not out of newspaper headlines with media sharply divided over a 29 year old Norwegian's role in modern cross country skiing. The latest episode was sparked by the visit of Ms. Johaug to Samlehuset, a local company ( but a branch of international powerhouse in its field). Samlerhuset Norge is a distributor of various collectibles best known for its succesful promotion & direct marketing of official Olympic coins. While there, an Olympic champion of Vancouver, who is missing the upcoming Games through doping suspension, was asked to write a greeting – which she promptly did on a booklet advertizing 2000 Korean Won, an Olympic edition special. " I will be back" reads the skier's message (in English), accompanied by a…
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19Jan 2018 by DS News Team
Faces Of Skiers Tell Stories

Faces Of Skiers Tell Stories

Leaders, Newsfeed
We don't often get to see their faces - television cameras only stop at them for a fraction of time and the spectators' stands are too far away, as a rule. Let's take a look at what relatively close access the press is entitled to brings - hopefully, the camera lens had managed to capture emotions written on their faces. [caption id="attachment_6476" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Federico Pellegrino of Italy[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6479" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Kasper Stadaas of Norway [/caption] [caption id="attachment_6485" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Andrey Krasnov of Russia listens to assistant coach Egor Sorin[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6484" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Andy Newell of Team U.S.A. & coach [/caption] [caption id="attachment_6483" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Andrej Segec of Slovakia[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6482" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Teodor Peterson of Sweden[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6492" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Caitlin Patterson and Kikkan Randall of the…
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18Jan 2018 by DS News Team
Laurien van der Graaff: Star Who Breaks With Conventions

Laurien van der Graaff: Star Who Breaks With Conventions

Leaders, Newsfeed
"...no, I don't like it all" confirms Laurien - and laughs heartily. You know what makes Laurien van der Graaff different from the rest (most – not all) top level ski sprinters? She's mellow. Now soft, not slow – mellow, relaxed, polite, smiley. And very pleasant to talk to. Not enough has been said or written so far about differences between traditional, distance skiing – and that of ski sprints. Distance skiers spend long hours doing well, distance skiing, Or rollerskiing. Or running. More time for self-reflection, for finding one's own zen. Sprint is one tough business. You give it all out going uphill - then accelerate, often risking, downhill and cutting tight turns. Plus pushing and shoving, sometimes very literally, against your competitors. And, of course, unpredictability – one…
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17Jan 2018 by DS News Team
Klaebo vs Chanavat. Who’s Got More Fans?

Klaebo vs Chanavat. Who’s Got More Fans?

Leaders, Newsfeed
We do need rock-stars of cross country skiing - without them adoring crowds shall move elsewhere, in search for other objects to follow and to love. Luckily, this season we have not just one - but two who have emerged. Just ask these fans who passionately waited for Johannes Klaebo and Lucas Chanavat to finish shaking hands with officials and doing media interviews  in order to have "a minute of selfie & autograph"  with their heroes.  
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15Jan 2018 by DS News Team
Skiweltcup Dresden: It Was Success, Start Marking Your Calendars For Next Year

Skiweltcup Dresden: It Was Success, Start Marking Your Calendars For Next Year

Leaders, Newsfeed
Skiweltcup Dresden had its inugural edition this past weekend – and by all indications, it was a success for all parties involved. We look at what went well, what could be improved – and, big picture, why is it great to have a new competition venue. Good 15000 people on the stands and along the race course. Fifteen thousand spectators! Can we say it one more time??! What's a routine attendance for the biathlon World Cup races, is but an impossible dream for the cross country skiing these days outside a couple of storied events in Scandinavia. For that reason alone Dresden is a resounding success story. Organization. Despite it being the first experience of a kind, the event went very smoothly and left all involved happy & wishing for…
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