When Kristine Stavås Skistad unexpectedly joined the Norwegian national team in April, she made it clear that she was going to follow the same plan as she has done in recent seasons: The 25-year-old will train with her club, Konnerud IL, and coach Lage Sofienlund. She won’t be attending any national team gatherings or joint training sessions before the start of the season.

“I’ll carry on as before, go underground after this week, and stay there until Beitostølen. I’m looking forward to getting some peace and quiet from you (the media), and then I’m looking forward to seeing you at Beitostølen,” said Skistad in connection with the national team selection.

Read More – Skistad: “I’m going underground now”

With five World Cup victories last winter, Skistad was by far the best of the Norwegian women. However, the coaches and the other skiers on the national team will only get to see a little of the cross-country skiing star before the World Cup starts at the end of November. Newly appointed national team coach Marit Bjørgen thinks this is unfortunate.

“I would have liked her to be on the team and for the others to challenge themselves alongside her,” Bjørgen told VG about the national team camp at Sognefjellet this week.

Bjørgen stands by what she said last winter when she was an expert commentator on cross-country skiing for Viaplay: that the best athletes need to train together and that it will help raise everyone’s level.

“I think it’s important to build a new team again. Maybe strengthen a slightly smaller team, bring in Astrid Øyre Slind and Kristine Stavås Skistad to strengthen the team, and build a completely new team. They need to see the value and opportunity in developing together,” Bjørgen said as a Viaplay expert.

Astrid Øyre Slind chose to continue in the private team, Team Aker Dæhlie, while Skistad is now formally part of the national team.

Also Read: Reasons Astrid Øyre Slind declined the Norwegian national team

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Skistad’s national team agreement with the Norwegian Ski Association means that the Association can use her for advertising, marketing, and various sponsorship activities, such as the annual market days in connection with the national team selection. But Skistad has complete freedom to run her program with her coach, Lage Sofienlund, right up to the season opener at Beitostølen.

Read More: Skistad makes surprise return to Norwegian national team

Bjørgen, who joined the women’s national team coaching team alongside Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass ahead of the season, understands that Skistad doesn’t want to make too many changes, especially in the run-up to a championship season. But she still hopes that Skistad will eventually realize the benefits of working with the rest of the women’s team.

“Now it’s an important championship on home soil, and she probably feels it’s safest to continue with what she’s been doing. But something is going on. I hope the others will eventually be able to train with her,” says Bjørgen.

The 44-year-old herself never considered standing outside the national team in her almost 20-year career at World Cup level.

Read More: Marit Bjørgen’s journey to becoming the World’s best winter sports athlete