Bente, the last few years’ Cross-Country Ski Queen, retired after last season’s final race. And she’s retiring for real, next winter she will barely ski at all. In October she’d on her way traveling the globe for 6 months together with her husband, Geir.
– We have not decided the exact travel route yet, but will stop in the US, South-America, Australia and Asia, Bente tells langrenn.com.
No ski-vacation, for sure.
– We’re not going to Salt Lake and Soldier Hollow, and neither to any other ski-towns, I just feel like experiencing something different.
Bente has for long while wanted to travel for leisure, but has not had the opportunity since being and living as a year-around elite athlete. Now she enjoys life as a “retired elite athlete”.
– It is nice not having to prioritize and plan every day and step; now I can leave things in the air a bit, and improvise more.
– Was it your ability to prioritize and plan so well that made you such a great skier?
– Yes!
Now she’s enjoying doing things that may seem very standard and normal, but have been neglected the last few years.
-I go to Starbucks, paint rooms in my house, spend time together with family and friends. I now have time to do things with others, for example at the cabin or out to dinner, without always thinking about my training.
Bente was the World’s best Cross-Country skier, especially in classical technique. She in however all finished with Cross-Country racing, and does not regret the decision.
Skari has not yet thought much about what to next as a profession. Certain newspapers have reported that she’s already begun working for the Norwegian Olympic Committee. This is however not true, she’s only been lecturing a couple of times for them. The Norwegian Ski Association has not been knocking on her door after retiring, and she does not think she’s a natural coach.
– I may have been an eager coach for a couple of weeks, but then become bored, I think. However, training is something I can discuss any day. I have not thought much about future jobs, but am sure I’ll have plenty of time during my 6-months travel around the World.
In other words, Bente does not ponder the future much, and enjoys her new and sometimes unfamiliar life. Her competitive instinct has even been reduced, such that being beaten in training is even ok, realizing that she is training much less than before.
– I enjoy training, but it is great to just train when I feel like it. I workout three to five times a week now. If five days have passed, I notice it’s been too long, and I get the urge to train. I’ve joined my National Team friend Vibeke Skofterud in a couple of interval sessions, and still have fun, even though I may get a bit behind. To put a race-bib on is however out of the question.
– What was the worst and the best of being a Cross-Country ski racer?
– Worst was all the planning and prioritization, which also were the reasons I ended up tired and the main reason I retired. The best was the feeling of ski racing, and noticing that my competitors could not keep up. The emotions and satisfaction of having skied a great race. This I will miss.
And so will likely all other Cross-Country ski enthusiasts.
