Anyone hoping to ski with six-time Norwegian Olympian Vegard Ulvang at the 2012 American Birkebeiner can do so by raising money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The first 25-30 people who raise $1,000 dollars or more will have a chance to “Ski with Vegard” the Thursday before the Feb. 25 race, and have lunch with him after. For every $250 dollars raised, one can also be entered into a drawing for a trip to...
Sandra Hansson’s violation of fair play during the 2011 König Ludwiglauf in Germany last weekend shocked FIS's Vegard Ulvang, but not just because of Hansson’s behavior. The handling of the case outrages both Ulvang and others.
While racers on the World Cup have voiced concern over the mini tour format following the FIS World Cup mini-tour in Kuusamo, Finland, earlier this season, North American racers overwhelmingly welcome the format.
The mini-tour is a test format in terms of the World Cup, said Kikkan Randall, who is on the FIS Athlete Commission for cross-country skiing. While Randall is a shoe-in for the format, doing well in both sprints and distance events, she does have mixed feelings about the concept as a staple on the schedule.
Since sprinting was first introduced, at the 2001 World Championships in Finland, the International Ski Federation (FIS) has constantly fiddled with the format. The number of heats, the number of athletes in each one, and the total number who qualify for the rounds—all have been altered at one point or another. But one of the most contentious—and significant—changes has been the length of the sprint race. Changes Were Necessary, Officials Say According to FIS Cross-Country...
If Vegard Ulvang gets run out of Europe, it appears that he still could safely make his home in North America. Ulvang is the chair of the International Ski Federation’s cross-country committee, which is considering the introduction of a new race format that includes five kilometers of climbing followed by five kilometers of technical downhill. Scandinavians have reacted to the idea with derision: Norwegian Eldar Roenning told the newspaper Nettavisen that the idea was “the...
OSLO, NORWAY – Norwegian national team racers object to FIS plans of introducing alpine cross-country races.
So much for Justyna Kowalczyk’s home-field advantage. For the first time in her career, the International Ski Federation (FIS) has scheduled World Cup races in Kowalczyk’s native Poland, in February of 2012. But if officials at FIS have their way, Kowalczyk, a notoriously poor descender, will have to successfully navigate five kilometers of technical downhill before she can step onto the podium there. According to FIS Cross-Country Race Director Jürg Capol, a federation committee discussed...
Earlier this summer FasterSkier ran an
(translated from ski-nordique.net 11-4-09, “Northug et Cologna sous le même maillot ? ” and langrenn.com “Ulvang mener Northug må få sin del av landslagskaka” 11-4 09) Leaders of the nordic ski world often look to cycling for ideas on how to advance the sport of skiing. Could the next similiarity come in the creation of more private teams ? With many national teams experiencing financial problems, the incentives to join a private team with larger funding could...
