She had hung up her skis but then delivered a strong performance at the Norwegian National Championships and landed a contract with Northug after a chat at the after-ski.

The 27-year-old from Leksvik, Norway, was a promising cross-country skier as a junior, with several podium finishes in the Norwegian Cup and top 10 placements at the National Championships. However, the transition to the senior level was tough. Despite solid training loads, the results didn’t come. Last year, Julie Victoria Berg decided to scale back her commitment to focus on her studies.

But as the Norwegian National Championships approached in January, she felt the competitive urge again.

At Gåsbu, Berg delivered a strong ninth place in the important 10-kilometer race. She was just 20 seconds from the podium, right behind Anne Kjersti Kalvå and ahead of several of Norway’s top skiers.

Head-hunted by Northug

Petter Northug was also present at Gåsbu, still dreaming of qualifying for the World Championships in Trondheim through the Nationals at the time. He noticed Berg, whom he knew from the local skiing scene back home in Inderøy.

Throughout the winter, Berg delivered several strong results in the Norwegian Cup and secured another ninth place at the Norwegian Cup race in Steinkjer.

After the Janteloppet in April, Northug had a chat with Berg. After Easter, she received an offer to join Team Burger King Northug, and in May, she signed a contract with the team.

She was a bit surprised by the offer herself, but seized the opportunity with both hands.

“I thought it was nice. I guess it gives me the chance to keep skiing for a couple more seasons,” Berg told Adressa.

Also Read: “When Petter Northug called, I felt it was the perfect timing”

The story continues below.

Northug: ‘An exciting athlete to work with’

Berg will be one of four women on Team Burger King Northug for the 2025/2026 season. In addition to the 27-year-old from Trøndelag, Northug has also brought in Swedish long-distance star Hedda Bångman. He already had Maren Nielsen and Fanny Endresen on the roster, and both are continuing next season.

Read More: Hedda Bångman joins Team Burger King Northug

What role Berg will have on the team hasn’t been fully determined yet. But the plan is for the skiers to participate in most of the races in the Ski Classics next season. Berg herself is unsure of what results to expect.

“It’s a nice opportunity. I know what Ski Classics is, but I honestly don’t know what I’m getting into,” says Berg.

Northug isn’t worried.

“Julie should relax. There won’t be any performance pressure in the first year. She’ll be a wild card on the women’s team. She’s an exciting athlete to work with, and with some inspiration from us, I believe she can continue the progress she showed last year. I hope she has such a positive experience this winter that she wants to continue another year,” he says.

Set an Ultimatum

Berg is looking forward to the challenge. But when it came time to sign the contract, she set one condition for Northug: Part 1 of the Norwegian National Championships.

The championship will be held in Steinkjer, practically in Berg’s backyard, and she doesn’t want to miss the event even though it clashes with Ski Classics.

“We’re talking about fielding a relay team from Leksvik, and it clashes with Marcialonga…,” says Berg.

Northug, however, gave her the green light and valid leave.

“It fits perfectly! The Nationals in Steinkjer are the weekend before Marcialonga. It’s La Diagonela that clashes with the Nationals, and I wouldn’t have sent Julie up to 1800 meters in St. Moritz anyway. She hasn’t had enough altitude exposure. So, racing Nationals is a much better preparation for Marcialonga,” says Northug.

Not Quitting her Job

Even though Julie Victoria Berg is now ramping up her skiing commitment again and has a professional contract with Northug’s long-distance team, she won’t be quitting her job for now. The agreement covers all expenses, but it’s not enough to make a living from skiing.

“By all means, I think the contract and the deal I’ve signed are great. But I won’t get rich from this. Then again, I’m not doing it for the money either. It’s a nice opportunity – a chance to meet new people.”

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