Cross-country expert applauds Norwegian Ski Federation’s decision to disband junior and development teams: “These teams are like playing the lottery.”

Norwegian Cross-country expert Petter Soleng Skinstad has been adamant for years: “Disband the junior and development teams. It’s a waste of money,” he told Langrenn.com two years ago.

He stands by this statement and welcomes the Ski Federation’s decision to discontinue the junior and development teams.

“It’s Like Playing the Lottery”

Skinstad argues that Norway’s junior and development teams are a misuse of resources and are not the best way to develop Norwegian cross-country skiing talent.

“The elite teams finance the lower-level teams, including the junior and development squads,” he points out.

He believes these funds could be better utilized by restructuring the national team system.

“Trying to predict which 17-year-olds will be top athletes at 25 is like playing the lottery,” says Skinstad.

“Physical development varies greatly among junior athletes. Some enter puberty early, others late, some develop muscle quickly, while others take longer. Some lose motivation. There are so many factors at play.”

A Need for Total Reorganisation

Skinstad has long advocated for an alternative approach to developing junior athletes rather than the current system, which selects a handful of skiers for a junior national team.

“The Ski Federation could, for example, appoint a junior coordinator responsible for monitoring and maintaining contact with team and club coaches. This would ensure talented athletes receive support from those who know the environment best,” he suggests.

Skinstad also proposes more open training camps and competitive opportunities where young athletes can test themselves against the best.

Such a system, he argues, would allow more young talents to pursue elite skiing for longer than under the current model.

Disband the Development Team

At the senior level, Skinstad believes the development team should be scrapped entirely in favor of larger training environments that include skiers across different age groups.

“The level and opportunities available on the development team are no better than what the regional teams offer. Scrap the development team and strengthen the regional teams instead,” he states.

“Integrate development athletes into regional teams and allow juniors to attend select training camps and sessions. Strengthen the connection between clubs, regional teams, and educational opportunities where athletes live,” he tells Langrenn.com.

Additionally, he believes more athletes should have access to training and support currently reserved for a small number of national team skiers.

“More athletes should be part of regional training groups with structured follow-up and testing—both for elite skiers and those just below that level. There’s no reason why five men on the elite distance team, five men on the sprint team, and ten women on the elite team should have significantly better support than everyone else,” Skinstad argues.

“I’d like to see a shift towards more local training groups and regional camps instead of a select few athletes traveling for centralized training camps once a month. I suspect this approach would raise the overall level of more skiers.”

Norwegian Regional Teams and Private Initiatives Proving Successful

Many of the athletes who have broken through at the elite level in recent years have come from regional teams and private initiatives operating under similar models.

Some examples include:

• Jan Thomas Jenssen (Team Elon Midt-Norge) and Matz Wiliam Jenssen (Elon Oslofjord), both selected for the World Championships.
• Andreas Fjorden Ree and Nora Sanness, who joined the development team from Elon Midt-Norge and Elon Oslofjord.
• Ansgar Evensen, who transitioned to the development team from Elon Innlandet.
• Aleksander Elde Holmboe, a sprint talent in World Championship discussions until last weekend, who moved to Elon Oslofjord from the private team Team Vestmarka Fleischer Finans.
• Johanne Harviken, the surprise World Cup sprint winner in Engadin last weekend, who competes for Team Elon Innlandet.
• Kristine Stavås Skistad, who developed through the club-based Team Konnerud. Although she is now formally part of the national team, Team Konnerud remains her main training base.

Read more: Louise Lindström’s long-distance journey