Astrid Øyre Slind was first compelled to sign with the national team. Now, she has to use her savings to continue her pursuit of success. Cross-country skiing expert is frustrated.

First, Astrid Øyre Slind had to sign with the Norwegian national team to be allowed to go to the World Cup and championships this winter.  

Now she has to pay out of her own pocket to continue her commitment and pursuit of World Championship gold in Falun. 

Can shorten your career

When Øyre Slind left Team Aker Dæhlie and joined the Norwegian national team in April, she brought her coach Chris Jespersen with her. 

Øyre Slind never had any doubts about hiring Jespersen as her private coach. The two have worked together for a number of years, and run their own program outside of the national team. This year, Øyre Slind will only be involved in some parts of the national team’s program. 

But she is honest that it costs, and that it is pure gambling – or investment. 

“As of now, it’s savings that are being used. And that I would rather go fast next year, then. It’s a pure investment. There’s no security in it, in that sense. I see it as an investment. Because I think it’s a plan that will do me good,” the 38-year-old tells Nettavisen.

Øyre Slind herself believes that she has landed a plan that gives her the best conditions for success in Falun. 

She now gets both the benefits of being on the national team, including priority in World Cup selections early in the season, and the opportunity to continue with the successful coach. 

But the price is so high that if Øyre Slind does not earn enough prize money, she may be forced to make another brutal choice: to end her career before she feels satisfied. 

Also Read: Norwegian cross-country skiing teams for season 2026/2027

The story continues below.

Stated: “Admits that the offer is not good enough”

Øyre Slind first applied for exemption from the national team, as she has done in recent years. But this year the association has tightened up considerably, and now she was rejected. The 38-year-old was therefore forced to say yes to the national team in order to be considered for selection for the World Cup and championships. 

The reason is a rule from 2013: paragraph 205.2 of the association’s general regulations. It states that runners who decline a place on the national team are also not allowed to represent Norway in World Cups and championships. 

Cross-country skiing expert Petter Skinstad is disappointed. He calls the rule “idiotic” and believes it only emphasizes that athletes do not see the association’s offer as good enough.

“The fact that someone even considers saying no is a declaration of bankruptcy, so having to resort to that rule to pressure people into the national team. To me, it’s the same as throwing your hands up in the air to admit that the offer they have is not good enough, and then they have to use pressure and force,” he tells Nettavisen.

More people are doing what Øyre Slind does

Karoline Simpson-Larsen and this winter’s big star Karoline Grøtting also had their applications for exemption rejected. Both are now part of the national team, but at the same time have relatively great freedom to continue with their own plans – out of their own pocket. 

For Simpson-Larsen and Grøtting, this means that they will follow much of the training program of Team Anlegg Øst Entreprenør, including high-altitude sessions. 

Also Read: Say yes or stay home

Kristine Stavås Skistad has already received national team contracts that give her complete freedom to follow her own schedule until the start of the season. She trains exclusively with Team Konnerud, and does not participate in any of the national team’s meetings or activities until November.

The national team coaches make no secret of the fact that they think it is harmful to the team. 

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