You were all wrong if you imagined that Bente Skari’s Gold Medal winning skis would end up on display above her fire-place or get a prominent place at the Norwegian Ski Museum at the famous Holmenkollen ski jump in Oslo Norway.
Bente has retired, but her skis are going to continue to be used in ski races — especially at the World Cup. Norwegian National team member Vibeke Skofterud took over both Bente Skari’s skis and her personal wax technician Geir Tufto.
Vibeke comments:
“I took over several of Bente’s skis. I requested that as a part of my contact with Fischer and it was acceptedâ€.
Vibeke has the contractual right to the skis but will not “block†other members of the National team in occasionally also using the skis.
Skofterud did not only take over Bente’s skis. Geir Tufto, Bente’s personal wax technician will follow Bente’s skis and wax Vibeke’s skis this winter. She is very excited about that.
“We had input in selecting new wax technicians for this season and it was natural to select Tufto since he knows Bente’s skis so well. I trust Geirâ€.
 conditions where my own skis didn’t run (well), and I asked to test some of Bente’s second best skis. I had good skis every time this occurred, however I didn’t always race and perform well†(laughs).</p>
<p>The women’s team has tested skis both in Val Senales and at the recent camp in Gaalaa, Norway. Skofterud has not tested as much as planned. Sickness forced her to abandon the Val Senales camp and return to Norway and the snow conditions were not optimal for ski testing in Gaalaa. At this point Skofterud is unsure about the importance of having some of Bente Skari’s skis.</p>
<p>“I haven’t thought that much about it. It’s probably not a huge advantage. Bente did not have that many pairs that were much better than my own skis. She had several very good classic skis. The skis I have taken over are good skis that will be a good reference point for my own new skis. I know I have got some good new skis if they are gliding as fast as Bente’s (old) skisâ€</p>
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