The Norwegian success coach has helped accelerate Finnish biathlon. So much so that the Norwegian leadership has acknowledged that the Oslo-based coach could be a future option for the Norwegian team. But now the decision has been made. He will stay where he is.

The Finnish Biathlon Association and head coach Erik Torneus-Kulstad have agreed to continue their cooperation.

Erik Torneus-Kulstad, head coach of the Finnish national biathlon team, will remain in the position for the coming seasons. The Norwegian coach’s contract is structured as a 2+2-year deal, the Finnish Association announced in a press release. Aku Moilanen will continue as lead coach and Torneus-Kulstad’s closest collaborator.

Erik’s and Aku’s work has given the national team a clear direction and a strong shared culture. The new agreement allows us to build long-term toward future championships and support athlete development in the best possible way,” said Biathlon Association President Jaakko Puurula in the press release.

Torneus-Kulstad also attracted interest from other nations during contract negotiations but ultimately chose to continue his work in Finland. It has previously been reported that Norway was among the interested parties. The Norwegian coach said the option was appealing, as he has his family in Oslo and comes from the area. An agreement with Norway would have made travel easier.

“I am highly motivated by what we have managed to build together as a team over four years. I am also happy that both Aku and I are continuing together. Continuity is the key to further development, because we can build on all the experience we have gained together,” Torneus-Kulstad said in the press release.

“The potential of this team is one of the main reasons I want to continue. We have achieved results, but there is still a lot we can improve. The sky is the limit, and we want to keep moving forward.”

Under Torneus-Kulstad’s leadership, the Finnish national biathlon team has built a strong performance culture in recent years, with team spirit, attention to detail, and long-term development as key pillars. Among other highlights, Suvi Minkkinen has competed in the World Cup wearing the yellow leader’s bib.

According to the Finnish Biathlon Association, both sporting results and strong relationships between coaches, athletes, and the wider support staff played a central role in the decision to extend the agreement.

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