Roar Hjelmeset will replace Jon Arne Schjetne as the Norwegian women’s national sprint team.
Hjelmeset replaced Fredrik Aukland as the Norwegian junior national team in 2008. After three years as the head coach for the Norwegian junior and U23 national teams, Hjelmeset was supposed to be the head coach for the new recruitment/development national team for the upcoming season.
“A month ago, I was approached about the position as the women’s sprint team coach, and I’ve spent a lot of time making my decision. We’ve worked with a lot of very inspiring and talented young skiers on the junior national team and on the U23 team. I’ve really enjoyed working with these skiers, but I felt like I couldn’t turn down this opportunity. I also thought that it might be a long time to be with the development team for three years, given that the senior head coaches most likely will continue in their positions at least through the Olympics in Sotchi,” Hjelmeset said in a press release from the Norwegian Ski Association.
Roar Hjelmeset, who is Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset’s younger brother, has extensive experience with elite cross country skiing, both from the racing and the coaching perspective. He retired from racing after the 2005 season and started coaching. After six years in the coaching profession, he is now the coach for some of the best sprint skiers in the world.
“The girls on the women’s national sprint team are not very old either, and there are several skiers who are developing rapidly. I’ve signed up to coach a very accomplished sprint team,” Hjelmeset said.