The gold coach of the Norwegian success team is stepping down after several years in the role.

The 42-year-old confirms this himself. 

“I am done,” Chris Jespersen told Adresseavisen.

He also stated that it was a straightforward decision. 

“The choice was easy” 

The reason Jespersen is leaving Team Aker Dæhlie now is that Astrid Øyre Slind is now part of the Norwegian national team. 

The 38-year-old requested an exemption from the national team but was denied. Øyre Slind was therefore forced to accept the national team position to be considered for selection for the World Cup and the Championships.

“Astrid (Øyre Slind) and I want full focus on her, and we fear there would be too little support if we were on two different teams. The guys at Team Aker Dæhlie need someone who can follow them up daily in Oslo, and that is not something I am able to do, so the choice was easy,” he said.

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Will train sparingly with the National Team

Jespersen also revealed that the agreement Øyre Slind has with the Norwegian national team means she will primarily continue to train independently. 

This year, she will only participate in certain parts of the national team’s program, with the World Championships in Falun being the main goal.

Losing several key resources in the support staff

The coaching profile has been associated with Team Aker Dæhlie since the team was established in 2022, as well as with the long-distance teams that merged into Aker Dæhlie: Team Koteng and Team Koteng Edissen.

Jespersen is one of several key resources now leaving the Norwegian private team. Earlier this spring, it became clear that two of the team’s top wax technicians are also leaving. One is going to the rivals in Ski Classics, while the other is taking a top job in the World Cup.

Read More: Recruits top wax technician from arch-rivals

Langrenn.com has repeatedly attempted to contact the management of Team Aker Dæhlie but has not received any responses to inquiries.