He is both a Junior and U23 World Champion. But the 23-year-old from Drammen, Norway, is also realistic and believes that it will be almost impossible to make the World Championships team for Trondheim. “If that happens, it will be a mega bonus,” he says.

In an interview with the local newspaper Drammens Tidende, Martin Kirkeberg Mørk talks about the narrow eye of the needle it is to reach the top in Norwegian men’s cross-country skiing.

From medals in junior categories to a spot in a World Championships team on home soil is an incredibly long jump. Therefore, he doesn’t think too much about the World Championships as many other top Norwegian skiers might.

“I don’t think it’s possible to make it to the World Championships this coming season. If that happens, it will be a mega bonus. In the last eight years, only one male skier outside the elite national team has been allowed to race a distance in a World Championships. This shows how damn tough it is to qualify when you’re from Norway, he says to DT.

At the same time, he admits that it’s a bit frustrating that there are so many strong competitors among the Norwegian men.

Drammen has a strong presence in cross-country skiing right now, but it’s mostly about Konnerud and the female skiers. Martin Kirkeberg Mørk from Drammen Ballklubb is a lone rooster among all the strong women performing. His younger sister, Emma Kirkeberg Mørk, is also aiming for the top, so the family has two athletes both hoping to compete internationally for Norway this winter.

The story continues below.

Many Competitors at Beito 

Now, a very important season premiere awaits at Beitostølen. Three races where everyone will be showcasing themselves to get representation opportunities later in the winter. This also applies to Martin, who is in his fourth year on the development national team.

And of course, a man who has won both Junior and U23 World Championships should have legitimate hopes for top placements. Last year, he was three times in the top 15 in the World Cup, took two bronzes in the Norwegian Championships (NM), and two silvers in the U23 World Championships.

He has often beaten athletes on the A-team. At Beito, he will race in two distance events – one in classic style and one in freestyle. 

“It will be a battle at Beito. At least 15 athletes have the capacity to be on the podium, and I am one of them. You need some luck too. It’s often that you race well, are 15 seconds behind the winner, but still end up in twelfth place, he explains to the local newspaper.

Also Read – Beitostølen Premiere: Complete program 

Other Goals than the World Championships 

With a realistic view that a World Championships spot may be too difficult, Martin sets other goals for the season. The 23-year-old hopes to get a national quota for World Cup races on home soil in Lillehammer and Holmenkollen. Additionally, he aims for good results at the Norwegian Championships in Vang in mid-January.

“I want to race fast this winter and set up a good foundation for competing at championships for Norway in the years to come. It’s also a natural goal to eventually join the elite national team, he says.

As a 23-year-old, he can afford to look beyond the World Championships in Trondheim 2025. There is also an Olympic Games in Italy the following year, and Falun will host the World Championships again in 2027.

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.