Bjørgen Returns:
Reported last week by several news outlets, retired World Cup star from Norway, Marit Bjørgen, will return to racing next season. Bjørgen (40), will be a member of Team Ragde Eiendom, managed by Jörgen Aukland. (The team is owned by Anders and Jørgen Aukland.)
Bjørgen told Norwegian broadcaster NRK she would focus on winning the 90-kilometer Swedish Vasaloppet.
It has also been reported that Bjørgen will be joined by the current overall World Cup winner and former teammate Therese Johaug on Team Ragde Eiendom. Johaug will still contest the World Cup.
Bjørgen, however, did not announce a return to World Cup racing: she retired from that circuit in 2018. That year, she became the most decorated winter Olympian with 15 medals in total, including eight golds, two of which she won in PyeongChang.
Free Access to “VISMA SKI CLASSICS PLAY” Until June 30th:
Like many folks and you might be keen on a video escape for a bit. Visma Ski Classics is offering free access to their video catalog until the end of this month. A few things you should know before gluing into the screen: Visma will ask for your basic info to sign up – a valid email and password. There is a “Free Trial” option ending on June 30, 2020, or you can select the monthly membership for $14.99, or an annual membership for $49.99. That said, we posted this in the news roundup since it appears free videos are yours for the next three or so weeks.
There was no prompt for credit card information during signup.
If you are stoked for a 5.5 + hour marathon viewing session you can spend that time watching the 2020 Swedish Vasaloppet.
The Davis behind the Davis on the “Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team”:
Beginning last season, some press-releases from U.S. Ski and Snowboard referred to the cross-country team as the “Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team”. We have had several inquiries from readers asking “who is this Davis?”
Here’s some of the backstory from Tom Horrocks, Communication Manager for the cross-country team. The funding is a three-year gift from the Davis Family Foundation. Currently, the team is in the second year of funding from the Davis Family Foundation. Although specific amounts were not disclosed, Horrocks wrote, “The amount of the gift matches our annual cross country team budget from last season. So, we have a flat budget this year, which is an incredible gift and benefit given the current economic downturn. The Davis gift basically ensures that our base level of programming is maintained for three years, giving us an incredible platform to prepare for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
“It is also important to note that U.S. Ski & Snowboard has a budget for domestic governance and events, which is still completely funded by U.S. Ski & Snowboard through our fundraising, sponsorship, etc. In addition, all Davis U.S. Cross Country Team athletes continue to benefit from all the other U.S. Ski & Snowboard departments and programs including sports science, sports medicine, communications, marketing, etc., and that support comes from outside the Davis Family Found gift.”
Andrew Davis is on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation Board of Trustees and is part of the Davis Family Foundation.
