Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[Mayomaniac]

The Norwegian women don't have a dedicated sprint team, so she joined the team with distance skiers and didn't respond well to the training regime.

Personally I think this is one of the reasons why we end up with a lot of skiers that are pretty good at both sprints and longer races, but if you see a Norwegian vs a Swede in a sprint finish the Swede will nearly always win.

I'd like to see some more specialization, especially for the athletes that end up around 15th to 25th in most races.

Thanks for correcting me, I didn't know that the women don't have a dedicated sprint team.-

 

[Mayomaniac]

So I read the statements of the Italians and according to them Pellegrino and Chiochetti had bad skis (no grip) but the service team was unlucky. Mocellini still had great skis, but then the conditions changed really fast. Chiochetti had exactly the same pair of skis (borrowed a pair because his skis got lost on the flight to Norway) and had no grip, Pellegrino had the same problem.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Just read Calle's comments on Expressen via google translate.

Complaining about no tactics advice from his coaches, he's what?34, it's Drammen!...what exactly are they supposed to teach him?

Yeah, it would be one thing if a young guy like Anger who really lacks racing experience there would have made such a statement, but come on Calle!

 

[KZD]

So both Denise Herrmann and Marthe Olsbu have announced their retirements today. For Herrmann in particular, I find it a shame as her ski times were great this season so I feel that she could still have a couple of good years ahead of her and then possibly retire after the next Olympic Games. Its also a blow for the German team but I think that they will rebound with the likes of Schneider, Kebinger and more in the middle run, Grotian. For Olsbu, I find it less surprising as last season's feats would be difficult to surpass but Norway better hope that Eckhoff comes back in shape otherwise their team will go into a crisis (in stark contrast to their dominance in the men's side).

 

[Samu Cuenca]

So both Denise Herrmann and Marthe Olsbu have announced their retirements today. For Herrmann in particular, I find it a shame as her ski times were great this season so I feel that she could still have a couple of good years ahead of her and then possibly retire after the next Olympic Games. Its also a blow for the German team but I think that they will rebound with the likes of Schneider, Kebinger and more in the middle run, Grotian. For Olsbu, I find it less surprising as last season's feats would be difficult to surpass but Norway better hope that Eckhoff comes back in shape otherwise their team will go into a crisis (in stark contrast to their dominance in the men's side).

If Tandrevold can have a bit more luck/find more consistency, it might not be too bad for them with some interesting names that can be promoted from the IBU Cup. But of course they most likely won't be dominating in the next season already.

We'll have to wait and see if Eckhoff, Wierer, Davidova and possibly other top names will also announce their retirements in the coming week.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

So both Denise Herrmann and Marthe Olsbu have announced their retirements today. For Herrmann in particular, I find it a shame as her ski times were great this season so I feel that she could still have a couple of good years ahead of her and then possibly retire after the next Olympic Games. Its also a blow for the German team but I think that they will rebound with the likes of Schneider, Kebinger and more in the middle run, Grotian. For Olsbu, I find it less surprising as last season's feats would be difficult to surpass but Norway better hope that Eckhoff comes back in shape otherwise their team will go into a crisis (in stark contrast to their dominance in the men's side).

The German juniors are monsters at the moment. Spark is also coming to Holmenkollen although she's more a Hinz than a Dahlmeier, but Johanna Puff is also still early on in her junior time and looks really good, and Julia Tannheimer in the youth field is just comically overpowered on the skis, and when she gets a bit too Miriam Gössner-like, Julia Kink is there to mop up with some more balanced biathlon.

Plus of course Voigt is the same age as Schneider and Kebinger, she just broke through sooner, at the senior level at least (Kebinger has better records at the Junior Worlds but has had some injury-addled seasons since graduating from juniors), and they still have Franziska Preuß to come back.

 

[BigCoward]

I wonder if Roiseland would have made the same decision without her doube victory last weekend? Going out on a relative high is nicer than a wasted season.

 

[Lequack]

So everyone is retiring now?

 

[Mayomaniac]

So everyone is retiring now?

Wierer might only go on a "hiatus" until her sponsorship deals end, so that she still gets some money from them. That's what Tina Maze did in Alpine Skiing. From what I know she wants to start a family pretty soon.

About xc skiing, I found it interesting that Skistad didn't answer the question if she was returning to the nt training group. I looks like she's really happy with the status quo.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Since she's already a mother, I hadn't expected Chevalier-Bouchet to retire, but if don't feel like continuing for another three years, then this is probably the best time to hand over your spot in the national team to someone else.

 

[OJRvE]

I dont know if its been reported before but apparently during the skating sprint in Tallin there will a common wax prepared by a team from manufacturer Swix. I don’t know if it means there will be no waxing trailers in central Tallin, which would make sense though.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I dont know if its been reported before but apparently during the skating sprint in Tallin there will a common wax prepared by a team from manufacturer Swix. I don’t know if it means there will be no waxing trailers in central Tallin, which would make sense though.

I kinda expect the Norwegian federarion to throw a tantrum if this gets implemented in general.

Of course one would need a transitional period so that all the skimen don't suddenly end up without a job. I'm sure a neutral service team will need lots of manpower to prepare a few different options for every skier, then it's up to the skiers or coaches to pick the right one for the conditions.

I guess the various nations would have to pay a yearly fee per athlete that they have, but in the end it wouldn't be more expensive than the current model and frankly it would make things easier for smaller nations to be competitive.

 

[eriksp92]

Tiril Eckhoff retires as well. Next season will be really interesting for the Norwegian women's team, they're in a very similar situation now as they were in 2014 after Tora Berger retired.

 

[BigCoward]

Tiril Eckhoff retires as well. Next season will be really interesting for the Norwegian women's team, they're in a very similar situation now as they were in 2014 after Tora Berger retired.

That is a shame, nobody should go out like that.

 

[dobrien]

That is a shame, nobody should go out like that.

Really wish she could have overcome her issues, found some form, and gone out on a higher note. She was always one of my favorites.

 

[DonAragona]

So everyone is retiring now?

The year after the Olympics is always the most popular time, the rest essentially commit to 3 more years.

 

[BigCoward]

FFS Johannes, shooting 9 a week after covid shouldn't result in a 25 second victory.

Laegried lost 32 seconds on the last lap to JTB.

 

[KZD]

JTB was apparently less affected by covid than Laegreid

Quite ironic that the Norwegians had their worse sprint race of the season in Oslo. Gives a little of hope for the next season.

 

[BigCoward]

Quite ironic that the Norwegians had their worse sprint race of the season in Oslo. Gives a little of hope for the next season.

In the words of Gandalf 'only a fools hope'.

 

[BigCoward]

Today is as bad as its ever been. I've been watching for 20 mins and I must have heard 'Jessie Diggins' about 150 times.
Nice win for Niskanen, good 2nd for Hennig.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Today is as bad as its ever been. I've been watching for 20 mins and I must have heard 'Jessie Diggins' about 150 times.
Nice win for Niskanen, good 2nd for Hennig.

As someone who isn't watching Eurosport I don't have to deal with that. It's just that her always making the same faces and gestures gets a bit old with the time, it feels a bit scipted. Nothing against her as a skier (one hell of a descender and skating specialist) and like Brennan she almost counts as a local girl by being based in Toblach during the season.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Ok, the US-team seems to have absurdly good skis today.
Either Calle is in great shape or he's once again starting too fast...

 

[BigCoward]

Klaebo appeared to finish very strong. Took 7 seconds out of Goldberg in last 900m. I think he might have this.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Klaebo appeared to finish very strong. Took 7 seconds out of Goldberg in last 900m. I think he might have this.

Yeah, you were right on this one.
Calle once again starting too fast, I hoped for something more...

 

[jsem94]

I just love seeing Hennig's diagonal stride technique. Kerttu is all over the place, too much hip movement and the upper body is all over the place. Sure, she's got the bigger engine, but the efficiency isn't the same.

Of course we had a Norwegian show on the men's side. As much as I hate to admit it, (sport IS politics, and ostracizing Russia is imho important so for now the status quo being kept is quite important) the sport needs the Russian athletes competing.