Asks the Norwegian Ski Association to consider different numbers of women and men on elite national teams: “I believe we need to consider the possibility of including more men.”

The Norwegian Ski Association is working on the national team selection for the Season 2024/2025 with the World Championships at home in Trondheim.

According to Langrenn.com, Jan Thomas Jenssen, one of the athletes who has put in a strong application for a spot on the team next season, believes it’s wrong that there necessarily should be an equal number of women and men on the elite national teams.

Jenssen points out that there are significant differences in the results between the Norwegian men and women, especially this winter.

“I believe we need to consider the possibility of including more men. I think the level difference is quite significant when you have 15 men with podium placements in the World Cup this year. Then three women have done it. The differences are substantial,” Jenssen tells VG.

He therefore believes that considerations of real medal chances should outweigh numerical equality, even though full equality is a policy adopted by the Ski Association.

“I think they should discuss it. Pride shouldn’t stand in the way of changing things they decided on last year,” says Jenssen.

The skier emphasizes while he is in favor of equality, it doesn’t necessarily have to mean an equal number of each gender on the elite cross-country skiing teams.

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Tiril Udnes Weng: Can lead to better development

Tiril Udnes Weng also agrees with Jenssen’s proposal.

She believes that it doesn’t necessarily diminish equality and points out that as an athlete, you might get better support outside of the national team.

“I’m in favor of equality, but I agree a little (with Jenssen). If you’re on the national team without participating much in the World Cup, you see the coaches less. Then it’s better to go to races with your own coach,” says Udnes Weng, adding that she doesn’t see it as Norway investing less in women’s cross-country skiing even if the distribution isn’t always equal.

Something similar has also been suggested by cross-country skiing expert Petter Soleng Skinstad. Last year, he suggested to Langrenn.com that the Ski Association should disband several national teams and instead strengthen the focus on regional teams. In these teams, it’s not guaranteed that there are always equal numbers of women and men.

Changing gender distribution is out of the question In the Ski Association, there is a political decision that there should be an equal number of women and men on elite national teams, and Torbjørn Skogstad, leader of the cross-country skiing committee, says they have no plans to change that. It’s both about equality and level.

“I believe we should have gender equality. It would be very odd if we were to start retreating on that. One must consider what’s best for the athlete. Athletes should be in the right developmental environment. But I believe we have ten female athletes who are good enough for an elite team,” says Skogstad to VG.

The Norwegian national teams for the Season 2024/2025 will be announced at the end of April.