Klaebo Finally Signed!

Klaebo Finally Signed!

Money & Finance, Newsfeed
The exclamation mark used in a title is justified - it might become a landmark event in the history of skiing and here's why: Skiforbundet, the Norwegian Cross-country Skiing Federation and its biggest star, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo have finally signed the agreement for the season 2019/2020 thus officiating the triple Olympic champion participation in the national team. The news came exactly a month after the deadline to sign, June 10th, had expired - underscoring the difficulties in negotiations. "... it has been necessary to spend good time in the areas where we have different views," says the boss of Norwegian cross-country skiing Espen Bjervig. Different views mentioned indeed reflect new times and new conditions we all live in. At the heart of the debate is what and how any skier…
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Markus Cramer Reveals What He Really Thinks

Markus Cramer Reveals What He Really Thinks

Leaders, Newsfeed
Markus Cramer is not only one of the world's best xcski coaches of this century. He's also very open and direct in expressing his opinions without being brusque. Here are some of his views on recent developments in international competitions and more talked-about events of the last season, derived from several conversations in the recent months: And dont miss for Part 2 where Markus talks about what he learned by working with the Russians.... [caption id="attachment_12086" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alpe Cermis as a mass start? - I am NOT happy with that idea. In at least two of the last three TdS series that final race was very interesting - in men's program at least. Now it will be messy fighting in tight curves on ascent.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12093" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bad:…
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Yes, Skiers Could Be Millionaires – Johaug Declares Record Earnings

Yes, Skiers Could Be Millionaires – Johaug Declares Record Earnings

Money & Finance, Newsfeed
The fiscal year of 2018 was the most successful one ever for the maverick athlete. Despite sitting the Olympic Games out, Therese Johaug reported earnings of some NOK 5 million (520k euros) - those are, essentially, the money she makes from advertizing and endorsement outside the tracks. Technically, the year of 2017 brought even higher numbers but that came from the sale of Active Brands, the company she part-owned. Overall, in 5 years its existence, Setra AS, the company through Johaug deals with sponsors & advertisers, made some NOK 30 min. (3.1 mln euros) Do tell that to young skiers and their parents: yes, one could become very well off if she/he is a top-level skier.
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Gambling Company Becomes Sponsor Of Swedish Skiing

Gambling Company Becomes Sponsor Of Swedish Skiing

Money & Finance, Newsfeed
Last rear Charlotte Kalla indicated that she would refuse a sponsorship by a gambling company for moral reasons. But next season she might not have a choice. The Swedish Ski Association just signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Svenska Spel, Sweden's state-owned national gambling operator. Unusually( and refreshingly) for cross country skiing where sponsorship terms are mostly kept secret, the essentials of the deal are made public: seven-year agreement is worth "just over SEK 80 million" or about 7.5 million euros. In indirect way it's an indicator of popularity of cross-country skiing in Sweden: Svenska Spel is used to be a sole gambling operator in the country, but, after the European Union pressure, the country's government was forced to open the market. The big betting companies moved in - and…
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Ebba Andersson Gets Sixten Jernberg Award

Ebba Andersson Gets Sixten Jernberg Award

Leaders, Newsfeed
At 21 Ebba Andersson got many an accolade for her performances - and now she gets one of Swedish skiing' most prestigious awards ( if not the most prestigious) The Sixten Jernberg Prize is a Swedish peculiarity, honoring the athlete with the best performance in internal competitions, regardless of his/ her performance internationally. Therefore the list of winners is a mixture of world famous names - Stina Nilsson won it in 2015, Charlotte Kalla in 2007, Thomas Wassberg and Gunde Svan have also made during their respective careers - and those who shined in Sweden in only.
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