He has been without a team since the end of winter. But now, the star and Vasaloppet winner from 2024 seems to be on the verge of a solution. And there will be many hamburgers for the 32-year-old Norwegian if everything works out.

Torleif Syrstad made a significant impression when he won Vasaloppet in 2024. He was racing for Lager 157 Ski Team at the time but later moved to Team Engcon. His success continued, especially towards the end of the season, with victories in both Birken and Marcialonga Bodø, as well as a second-place finish in the Summit 2 Senja final.

This earned him a third-place finish overall in Ski Classics, and there was considerable surprise when Syrstad announced that he could not come to an agreement with Team Engcon for a continuation. He simply received a contract offer that he could not accept.

Instead, he expressed a desire to join Petter Northug’s Team Burger King. Syrstad lives in Meråker, where Northug also resided for much of his national team career.
However, issues arose, and Team Engcon denied him the opportunity to join the burger team. The reason: both teams have a collaboration regarding waxing, with Team Engcon providing wax services for Team Burger King Northug. They were unwilling to wax Syrstad’s skis if he switched to a competitor.

Also Read: Vasaloppet was just the beginning for Syrstad

Conflict resolved

However, it now appears that the conflict is resolved, and Petter Northug Jr. is proud, amidst all the dancing on TV4.

“It’s a feather in our cap,” says the Norwegian ski star to Expressen.

And hopefully, a solution will materialize for Torleif Syrstad, who over the summer described Team Engcon’s actions as both childish and unsportsmanlike.

“I am really irritated and disappointed,” he told NRK during the summer competitions at Toppidrettsveka.

While everything is not finalized yet, according to Petter Northug Jr., it is expected to work out.

“We believe we are close to a resolution. It’s a significant milestone for the team, sponsors, and all of us who have been part of this journey. Bringing in a Vasaloppet winner who also won Birkebeinerrennet last year is a tremendous strength,” he further stated to Expressen.

Northug chooses not to involve himself in the conflict itself.

“It’s foolish for them to take the conflict public instead of resolving it internally. They were a team last year. We have said that now that we are resolving this, we will set it aside and focus on what we can create this winter. We want to race fast and not be in conflict.”

“I understand that disagreements can arise, but then you have to try to resolve them. You can still disagree after discussing it, but not take it to the media as they did,” Northug expressed in unusually diplomatic terms.

Previously, Team Burger King Northug has also secured Magnus Vesterheim. The athlete from Harstad in northern Norway finished fifth overall in Ski Classics last season.

Read More: Vesterheim signs with Team Burger King Northug

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