Those of you who have followed Ski Classics Season XIV may have wondered why some Norwegian skiers compete in Pro Team race suits and some in National Team clothing, even though they belong to the same Pro Team. Here you have the answer.

Pro Tour and World Cup star Astrid Øyre Slind compete in Ski Classics events in Team Aker Daehlie’s race suit, and Andrew Musgrave, traditional cross-country skier for Team GB, race in Team Næringsbanken’s colors, while Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget races in a Norwegian National Team suit, even though in Ski Classics he is a member of Team Eksjöhus.

These athletes wore their respective National Team race suits to the World Championships in Planica. At the Norwegian Championships, some National Team skiers raced in National Team colors and some with their club race suits.

Our Norwegian sister site Langrenn.com asked Petter Soleng Skinstad, a cross-country skiing expert on Norwegian TV2 and a Ski Classics Pro Tour athlete, to clarify the question.

Petter explains that traditional cross-country skiers must race in National Team suits when they represent Norway and the Norwegian Skiing Association, for example, in the World Cup and World Championships.

“When the Ski Association registers someone, they must wear the National Team uniform. It’s not like the skiers can sign up for the World Cup or World Championships.”

But there are exceptions. For example, you sometimes see skiers who start World Cup races in team or club race suits. For instance, Norwegian skier Pål Trøan Aune raced in Team Northcom’s outfit during the World Cup sprint in Drammen.

“Skiers who are selected for the National Team do not receive a National Team uniform or any other equipment from the team. They then ski in their suits,” says Skinstad and continues:

“But skiers who belong to a Regional Team, who often get many places in the National quota, have the same design uniform as the National Team. They, therefore, look like National Team kits, but if you look closely at the logos on the kit, there are several differences from the National Team.”

But in Ski Classics, for example, you see these skiers in National Team uniforms and Pro Team colors. Is it the case that Elite and National Team skiers can freely choose the outfit they want to wear when going to other ski races?

“No, an athlete who belongs to the National Team who goes to Ski Classics, must ski in the National Team race suit. That’s why Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget skied in the National Team outfit when he won Reistadløpet, even though he skis for Pro Team in Ski Classics,” says Skinstad.

The exception is the Norwegian Championships, where National Team skiers can choose whether to race in a National Team uniform or a club race suit.

“In the National Championships, you see both. There it is free to choose to ski in a National Team uniform or a club race suit,” says the cross-country skiing expert.

When skiers from the Swedish National team compete in Ski Classics, they usually race in the Pro Team’s colors if they represent a Pro Team.

Read More: Astrid Øyre Slind and Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget Shine At Reistadløpet 2023.