Did not receive an exemption from the Norwegian national team. Now she reveals the details of the agreement.

“I am very satisfied with how it turned out,” says Karoline Simpson-Larsen. 

Langrenn.com meets the 29-year-old during the altitude training camp in Font Romeu, France. She is there with Team Anlegg Øst Entreprenør, the private team she raced for last year.

Simpson-Larsen joined the Lillehammer-based private team ahead of last season. Just six months later, she secured her first World Cup victories. Barely two months after that, she won Olympic gold.

When the dream season concluded in March, the plan was to continue with Team Anlegg Øst Entreprenør for the upcoming season – with coach Emil Hosøy and his setup that clearly suited her well. 

Simpson-Larsen was therefore disappointed when her request for an exemption from the Norwegian national team was denied, following a process that both she and teammate Karoline Grøtting describe as challenging.

Also Read: Say yes or stay home

Revealing dream agreement

Since May, both Simpson-Larsen and Grøtting have formally been part of the Norwegian national team.

But what does the agreement actually look like? 

In an interview with Langrenn.com, Simpson-Larsen reveals that not much has changed from last year, describing her agreement with the national team as a dream deal. 

“I have gotten it exactly as I wanted. I am very grateful that I have the freedom to train in ways I believe in. At the same time, I now also have access to various benefits and resources that the federation offers,” she says, continuing. 

“The agreement is that I will participate in three training camps with the national team in Norway. The first was at Sognefjellet. Then there was one in Sandefjord early in the summer, and now we will have one at Mosetertoppen in October.” 

The 29-year-old continues to train daily with Team Anlegg Øst Entreprenør and attends all of the private team’s altitude training camps. 

This was also the case in Font Romeu, where the national team and the private team held camps at the same location simultaneously. 

“I am here with Team Anlegg Øst. We sometimes see the national team, but I do my sessions with Anlegg Øst,” says Simpson-Larsen.

What is so unique about the setup of Team Anlegg Øst Entreprenør? 

“They have a setup that allows you to constantly monitor your progress. If things start to go wrong, you can catch it early. It’s a foolproof system,” she says, continuing. 

“It’s different when you only see each other at camps. I see Emil five days a week. That provides a sense of security. There’s a big difference between that and seeing each other five days a month.” 

This weekend, coach Emil Hosøy was named Coach of the Year by the Coaches Club in the Ski Federation. 

Read More: The small team surprised the World elite and national team – now the coach is being celebrated

Karoline Simpson-Larsen is also clear that she enjoys being with the national team when she is with them. This was the case last winter when she was part of the World Cup squad, and it remains the same during the camps she attends with them. 

“The national team is very good, and I enjoy it a lot. I feel like I have the best of both worlds.”

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