Source: Langrenn.com
The Norwegian national teams are picked for the upcoming season and chief of cross country skiing, Bjornar Hakensmoen says that it wasn’t too difficult to select those who deserved a national team spot.
– It wasn’t too tough of a process. Everyone we selected performed at a high level this winter. We have good depth. Sixteen out of the twenty-seven skiers we selected for the national team was on the podium this winter, says Hakensmoen
The development team is gone, but the national team is expanded.
– It’s exciting that so many skiers are moving up from our impulse groups. We need to continue and strengthen this effort. Jon Anders Gaustad is good an example of someone that has developed through that avenue. It’s not our desire to take someone out of their local club too early. That could be damaging for them. It’s important with continuity. The bar has been very high for making the development team the last couple years. Everyone that has been there have been candidates to race World Cups. It wasn’t like that ten years ago, says Hakensmoen.
The national teams will spend seventy days at altitude in their Olympic preparations since the Torino, Olympics are at altitude.
The Norwegian Ski Federation selected a total 27 skiers for their A-team and 12 skiers for their junior team the 2005/2006 season. An additional four women and five men are invited to take part at 2-3 national team camps before the season start.
The following skiers were added to the A teams: Women: Guro Strom Solli. Men’s regular team: Jon Anders Gaustad, Men’s sprint: Ola Vigen Hattestad
Team Cresco, Women’s A-team
Coaches: Svein Tore Samdal og Egil Kristiansen
Marit Bjœrgen, Rognes IL
Kine Beate BjœrnÃ¥s, IL Varden
Ella Gjœmle, LYN
Hilde Gjermundshaug Pedersen, Nybygda
Ingrid Narum, Sogndal
Vibeke Skofterud, Slitu IF
Guro Strœm Solli, Drevja IL
Kristin Stœrmer Steira, HœybrÃ¥ten & Stovner
Kristin Mürer Stemland, Byåsen IL
Team Cresco, Men’s A-team:
Coaches: Krister SœrgÃ¥rd og Morten Aa Djupvik
Jan Egil Andresen, Hamar Skiklubb
Anders Aukland, Oseberg Skilag
Espen Harald Bjerke, Lillehammer
Frode Estil, Lierne Ski
John Anders Gaustad, Hamar Skiklubb
Odd-Bjœrn Hjelmeset, Fjellhug/Vereide/Hyen
Tore Ruud Hofstad, Lillehammer
Kristian Horntvedt, Stokke
Kristen Skjeldal, Bulken
Jens Arne Svartedal, Trœsken IL
Team Cresco, Men’s sprint team:
Coach: Ulf Morten Aune
HÃ¥vard Bjerkeli, Isfjorden
John Kristian Dahl, Kirkenes
Ola Vigen Hattestad, Ørje
Tor-Arne Hetland, Byåsen IL
Trond Iversen, Mjœndalen
Johan Kjœlstad, Skogn
Bœrre Næss, Eftelœt
Eldar Rœnning, Skogn
Junior team:
Trener: Jon Arne Schjetne
Betty-Ann Bjerkreim Nilsen, NTG/Vestringen
Ingeborg Dahl, NTG/Ringkollen Skiklubb
Marte Elden, Henning Skilag
Astrid Jacobsen, Heming/Team Kollen
Marit Liland Fredriksen, Stokmarknes
Astrid Øvstedal, Strindheim
Glenn Elvestad, HSG/Gjerdrum IL
Anders Glœersen, Rustad IL
Tore Martin Sœbak Gundersen, Vang
Petter Northug jr., Henning Skilag
Eirik Kurland Olsen, NTG/ IL ROS
Eirik Sæves, NTG/Gjerdrum IL
Impuls groups — invited to participate at 2-3 national or junior national team camps before the season start:
Women senior:
Coach: Egil Kristiansen
Marte Elden, Henning Skilag
Betty-Ann Bjerkreim Nilsen, NTG/Vestringen
Caroline Tangen, Sjåstad-Vestre Lier
Ingrid Urdahl, Vaaler IF
Men senior:
Coach: Morten Aa Djupvik
Martin J. Sundby, Rœa IL
Petter Northug jr., Henning Skilag
Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Holeværingen
Stig Rune Kveen, Strindheim
Eivind Juul Pedersen, Harestua IL
Junior:
Coach: Jon Arne Schjetne
Karoline Borgnes, Heming/Tem Kollen
Vilde Ravnsborg Gurigard, NTG/Sœre Ã…l
Kjersti Bœ, Klæbu
Bengt Magnus Mathisen, Tiller
Bjœrnar Larsen, HSG/Vindafjord
Jonas Nielsen, HSG/Lœrenskog
