At the same time as relay is scrapped, a whole new competition form takes place in the World Cup.
William Poromaa is critical of the development of the sport.
– I ask myself how much you can change before people get less, he says.
Emma Ribom, Frida Karlsson, Ebba Andersson and Jonna Sundling took the World Cup gold in Norway this spring.
Photo: Maxim Thore / Bildbyrån
William Poromaa is critical of the development of the sport.
Photo: Maxim Thore / Bildbyrån
Next season, Sweden will not chase pallet seats in regular relays in the World Cup.
When the International Ski Association (FIS) released the competition program, only two team sprints were included in the planning.
– In the World Cup program I do not know if it is so important, many times it has not been too high participation and then it gets a little watered down. But I do not want the consequence to then disappear from the championship program. Because it really belongs in my eyes, says Ebba Andersson.
The Olympic relay will thus be the only relay of the season.
– It may be a bit strange, says Emma Ribom.
At the same time as relay is scrapped, a new competition form makes an entrance.
– I don’t take anything, says Ribom.
The world elite will compete for five kilometers with mass start – in heat.
The national team leadership went through the news with the squad during this week’s Olympic camp in Crete.
– There were many question marks in the room. It sounds like a very exciting format I think. But we are doing an outdoor sport and there are very external conditions that can really put it because it will be a long competition, says Moa Illar.
Ebba Andersson’s concern about the development
Maja Dahlqvist does not have full control over the details, but is positive.
– It is a disadvantage that it differs so long between the first and last starts. An advantage can be for them, like yourself, stands far behind in a mass start and is 30 seconds behind in the first interim because you started so far behind, she says.
– I think it’s fun to dare to test other things.
Ebba Andersson is so far not as positive.
– I hardly know anything about it so don’t ask me much more. I have opinions, absolutely – but I have as many question marks, she says.
What are your opinions?
– First and foremost, I am extremely hesitant about the new form of competition because I do not really understand the purpose of it. What I think I now have as the first task when the new competition program has come is to get some more facts and info on how it is supposed to go. Then I can see if it strengthens my views about the one who is not too positive, but that is because I am a distinct distance rider.
Andersson finishes:
– I would have liked to see that the trend in traditional skiing went in a different direction than the distance race to be shorter and such formats that are similar to sprint.
Ebba Andersson.
Photo: Gepa Pictures / Harald Steiner / Gepa Pictures Bildhyrene Loan
William Poromaa: “No fucking short distances”
There is another distinct distance rider who is critical.
– I have been skiing for quite some time and when I feel that I have a hard time understanding the arrangement, my thoughts go to those who follow this sport, says William Poromaa.
– I ask myself how much you can change before people get less.
Do you think the development is going in the wrong direction?
– I think the development is going a little in the wrong direction. There will be shorter distances and I think it will not be as hard and tough as it has been before.
The 24-year-old who took silver on the five-mile in Trondheim gives his view of the sport.
“Cross -country skiing for me is tough and damn I thought,” he says, laughing.
– But no fucking short distances – it should be tough. Don’t change lots so there are short distances and people understand nothing. No, it’s not cross -country skiing for me anyway.
Why do you think it will be more like that?
– I think it’s because you want to broaden the sport and get more nations at the top. I think that is the foundation and in turn economics. It is probably what governs.
