Cross Country News

2009/2010 was not the best season for the Norwegian distance Cross-Country team. If there was not Petter Northug and his overall World Cup Victory you would find the first Norwegian, Eldar Roenning on 15th place and Tord Asle Gjerdalen on 39th spot being the third best of Norway’s distance specialists.

Slovenian most successful Cross-Country skier Petra Majdic went for the first training camp on snow. Bronze medalist from Olympic sprint in Vancouver kept the tradition and traveled to Ramsau.

Italian ladies’ distance were on a training camp in Toblach since last week. Arianna Follis, Silvia Rupil, Elisa Brocard, Virgina De Martin, Magda Genuin and Antonella Confortola were preparing for upcoming season in the Nordic Arena Toblach under supervision of the head coach Silvio Fauner and ladies’ coach Fredy Stauder and physiotherapist Erik Benedetto.

Marcus Hellner won gold in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic pursuit, but claims he doesn’t like pursuit-style races. While these are seemingly contradictory statements, and ones that Hellner has ruffled some feathers with, he stands by them.

Sharp training period starts for Norwegian Cross-Country team as they go for high altitude training. Ladies’ team left for Seiser Alm and Livigno already on Wednesday.

Salzburg ring will host on Sunday, August 29 Austrian Rollerski Champs. Ladies will compete in 30 km Mass Start whereas men will fight on the 50 km Mass Start race.

Kristin Stoermer Steira suffered heel injury in late June, which prevented her from taking part in European Athletics Championships. She had to adapt her summer training schedule. She should have started in KirkkebakkenGrand Prix but recovery takes longer than expected.

25-year-old Hellner, double Olympic champion from 30 km pursuit and 4×10 km relay. Olympic games made from him World Cross-Country star. “Olympics were a big hit. However, with less luck it could have easily ended up with no medals” said Hellner to Norbottens Kuriren. He know what he talks about. He finished fourth in his favorite distance over 15 km Free.