Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet reports that Tore Ruud Hofstad's “gold skis” are no longer as fast as they used to be. Re-grinding is in the works.
Article with photo: http://www.dagbladet.no/sport/2005/12/20/452709.html
Tore Ruud Hofstad's (26) best ski pair is no longer gliding as they once used to. They are being sent in for a new grind less than two months before the Olympics. The ski pair which Tore Ruud Hofstad successfully used at the 2005 Worlds and in his first-ever World Cup victory in Kuusamo on November 27th, failed him in two races in Canada. First during his 53rd place in Vernon on December 10, and then during the 33rd place in Canmore on December 15.
The skis have been gliding well especially in cold conditions, and Hofstad is not hiding the fact that the pair was earmarked for the Olympics in February.
– I have other good skis that also are good in cold conditions, but I have skied many good races on these skis, and I'm hoping to race on them again soon. I'm dependant upon good skis at the Olympics and these should be as new again after the grinding process, says Hofstad to Dagbladet.
Hofstad's wax technician Stian Gronaas admits that this is not an ideal situation.
– I won't confirm or deny that the skis have been damaged. But they didn't function as they should in the last two races, so we are choosing to get a new grind on them in order to be on the safe side. This is a very good ski pair that we are planning to use at the Olympics, says Gronaas.
Too cold?
He is not leaving out the possibility that the skis can have been gliding slower because it was considerably colder in Canada than it was in Kuusamo, and that the conditions/snow was different.
Hofstad’s next World Cup race is in Nove Mesto December 31.
