After a solid start to his career, the long-distance ski talent from Norway ends his career as a Pro Team athlete.

The Pro Team athlete from Norway got his professional cross-country career off to a solid start when he won the Ski Classics Green Sprint bib overall already in his second season. Then, Stian Berg set the goal of taking the Yellow Champion bib by 2025. 

After five years with Team Kaffebryggeriet and two overall victories in the Ski Classics Sprint competition (Seasons X – 2019/2020 and XII – 2021/2022), Berg decided to put his skis on the shelf.

“I came here, but not as a skier anymore. It is strange to announce that it is now over because this has meant everything and been my life,” says Stian Berg in a post on social media. 

Read More: Stian Berg ends career as a Pro Tour athlete

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After last season, Stian Berg left Team Kaffebryggeriet and reflected on further focus on the sport. The future was uncertain then, but he also hoped to be on the tracks next season. 

“There has been a longer evaluation time because letting go of goals, dreams, and life as a skier is deeply rooted. It has “been me” all my life, and suddenly having to give it up and be something else is both scary and strange,” Berg admits to Langrenn.com. 

Health issues  

Berg says that injuries and health problems forced him to make some decisions. 

“My back has been bothering me for six years, and I am finding out what is causing it. Not everything with top sports is healthy,” says Berg.

But now I’ve realized that neither the body nor the mind is quite where I think it should be to continue where I want. And then it is a fair but sad decision to make by giving up,” says Berg and adds:  

“You want a lot and feel you can do a lot, but it suddenly comes to a point where you realize that it is not good enough to override body warnings to get where you want, and then it also affects the mental part a little, and you no longer have enough drive and positive mindset.”

Comeback after Covid

Berg’s cross-country career started with an entire focus on traditional cross-country skiing but had a breakthrough after he switched to long-distance skiing in 2018. He won the Green Sprint bib already in the second season he focused on Ski Classics. 

At the same time, Berg knows his career has brought ups and downs. 

He got Covid in the 2020/21 season, was out of action for several weeks, and lost most of the season and the chance to defend the overall victory in the sprint competition. The following season, Berg took back the Sprint bib. 

Also Read: Stian Berg tested positive for Covid-19

Despite illness and injuries, he was still on track to fulfill his ambition of Ski Classics’ overall victory. 

“I came a long way, actually won a few ski races, and did not become the world’s best skier, but still very proud of the journey and what I have achieved,” he says. 

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Although Berg has decided to retire from his professional sports career, he is back to think about what’s next. 

“For now, I will continue in my job as a therapist, but I know I must have something more to go to, where I can use more of what I know. Now I have to put my feet on the ground and find out what I want to do now; then, we’ll see what opportunities arise. But sports are life for me, so I want to work on something within that,” he says to Langrenn.com.

Leaving a gap in the team

Team Kaffebryggeriet’s Pro Team Director Magnus Vesterheim is sad about Berg’s decision to retire but at the same time understands the decision. 

“With the potential Stian had and the further development of the team, I think we could have climbed onto the overall podium now for the winter, but you have to be 100 percent motivated,” says Vesterheim to Langrenn.com.

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