Chris Jespersen – FasterSkier

She almost retired at 26. Now, at her first Olympics, Astrid Øyre Slind has a gold medal at age 38.

Nathaniel HerzFebruary 16, 2026

This article was made possible through the generous support of our voluntary subscribers who have helped put our Nat Herz on the ground at the Olympics. If you value coverage like this, please support FasterSkier with a voluntary subscription. PREDAZZO, ITALY — When Astrid Øyre Slind was 26, she almost retired from cross-country skiing. She was a good skier, just not quite good enough to break into the international circuit from her home country of Norway, where...

Continental Cup General Racing Training Workouts

Closing the Gap: Competition Instincts

FasterSkierApril 24, 2018

Editor’s Note: The following is part of a series proposed by Maks Zechel, a 20-year-old Canadian cross-country skier embarking on his first season training abroad. In August, he made the big move to Norway, where he’ll be training and racing with Team Asker for the entire winter. Through these updates, Maks hopes to share his personal “observations, stories and lessons learned” to help close the gap between North American and Scandinavian nordic skiing. Previous posts: 2, 4, 6, 8, and

General News Racing World Cup

Swedish and Norwegian National Teams Nominated

FasterSkierMay 1, 2014

For all the international-racing junkies out there, the Swedish and Norwegian Ski Associations recently announced the nominations to their 2014/2015 national teams: a couple new names, a few departures, but both are back again with depth in numbers.

Racing Tour de Ski World Cup

Norway Sweeps Men’s Podium, Solidifies Tour Rankings

Topher SabotJanuary 4, 2014

The Norwegian men swept the top four spots in the penultimate stage of the 2014 Tour de Ski. Led by Petter Northug's first victory of the season, Norway moved closer to capturing the nation's first Tour title. Overall Tour leader Martin Johnsrud Sundby was second in the 10 k classic race, and Chris Jespersen was third.

General News Racing

Johaug Takes Sixth Skarverennet Title; Jespersen Holds Off Northug for Win

Audrey ManganApril 21, 2012

Just when you thought the ski season was over, Norway hosted one of the world’s biggest ski marathons, the 38 k Skarverennet, on Saturday morning. About 12,220 skiers competed in the race that runs from Finse to Ustaoset, high in the mountains. Therese Johaug won in 1:41:33, defeating Norwegian teammate Marit Bjoergen by 19.8 seconds. Martine Ek Hagen took third, one-tenth behind Bjoergen. Johaug took it out hard up a long incline out of Finse, and Bjoergen...

General News Racing World Cup

Rookie Gaillard (FRA) wins Skarverennet (NOR)

Inge ScheveApril 30, 20111

Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA) won the 38-kilometer Skarverennet from Finse to Ustaoset in Norway after a fierce sprint to the finish Saturday.

Racing World Cup

Norway’s Northug Still Questionable For Kuusamo World Cup

Inge ScheveNovember 22, 2010

The Norwegian women dominated the World Cup opener Nov 20-21, and the Norwegian men want revenge on the Swedes. However, will likely have to achieve the task without reigning World Champion Petter Northug in the Kuusamo (FIN) mini-tour.