In a comprehensive analysis conducted in collaboration with Linnaeus University, the Swedish Ski Association has shed light on crucial areas of improvement for the national cross-country skiing team, emphasizing flexibility and economic viability as top priorities for the skiers.

In a press release from the Swedish Ski Association, the national team manager, Anders Byström, expressed gratitude for the investigation, which has provided a clear and objective perspective on areas ripe for further development. Byström stated, “We are grateful for the investigation that has been made. We have now received an objective and comprehensive picture of which areas need to be deepened and developed further to make the national team operations even better.”

During the summer of 2022, the Swedish Ski Association established a dedicated working group commissioned to evaluate the current state of national team activities in Sweden and outline future directions. The objective was to present a comprehensive analysis and suggest potential changes and focus areas for the 2023/2024 season and beyond. Leading this initiative was development manager Lars Selin.

Selin mentioned, “The report produced as a result of this effort had the invaluable assistance of P-G Fahlström, an experienced and talented researcher from Linnaeus University, who helped us navigate the multifaceted aspects of our analysis. The group has presented several focus areas and proposed measures that give us an excellent base to work on.”

The analysis highlighted three prominent areas of concern: economic support for active athletes, communication and environment, and enhancing sporting quality through individual adaptation.

P-G Fahlström, the researcher involved in the project, explained, “What we see in surveys and interviews is that flexibility and a national team model with ‘softer edges’ is an important part to review. This issue is closely linked to the economy, where athletes want greater opportunities to work with their sponsors, while the national team’s sponsors demand exclusivity in several cases.”

In response to these findings, National Team Manager Anders Byström and athlete representatives have initiated a process to formulate an action plan focusing on the three identified areas. Byström revealed, “Already this spring, we have introduced a more individually adapted national team model by offering greater participation in camp plans, more involvement, and dividing the teams on more occasions to get higher quality at the camps. We have also started more frequent dialogues with external resources personnel, such as personal coaches, to better view the athlete’s status and development.”

The insights from the national team review will serve as a guiding framework for further enhancing the national team model and activities, ensuring they are primed for the future of cross-country skiing.

For the complete report of the national team review, please see the attached PDF here (in Swedish).

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