Norway's women's cross-country team will begin its next training camp without Kristine Stavås Skistad. The 27-year-old sprint specialist has pulled out of the gathering at Mosetertoppen only a day before it was due to start. According to Langrenn.com, the camp runs from 5 to 9 October. The Norwegian Ski Federation confirmed her withdrawal to news agency NTB on Sunday evening.
Rest after a turbulent few months
According to the federation, Skistad decided "in consultation with the national team leadership" not to attend. NRK and VG both reported that she needs more rest after a demanding period with a lot of media attention. VG also reported that she will miss the team's media day on Monday in the Lillehammer area.
Skistad has had an unsettled summer. In June, she ended her working relationship with personal coach Lage Sofienlund. In September, she left Konnerud IL for neighbouring club Mjøndalen IF. VG reported that Konnerud had dealt internally with a complaint Skistad made against Sofienlund. According to that report, the coach received only a written reprimand and has since moved into an administrative role.
A special arrangement until the season opener
Skistad is entering her third season on the Norwegian national team. Langrenn.com reported that she has a special agreement allowing her to largely plan her own training until the season opener in November. Mosetertoppen would have been her first national team camp since the split with Sofienlund. That gives her decision some symbolic weight: for now, she is sticking to her own route and staying away from day-to-day team life so she can rest.
The timing also stands out, because the decision came on the eve of the camp. Monday's media day at the women's camp marks the public start of the final phase of winter preparation. Local media in Drammen reported that Konnerud IL concluded its review of the complaint in September, the same month Skistad moved to Mjøndalen IF Ski. The federation has not given a timeline for her return to national team activities.
Cross-CountryVasaloppet is third Grand Classics race of Ski Classics seasonSlind out with illness
Skistad is not the only absentee at Mosetertoppen, which leaves the women's team two skiers short. Astrid Øyre Slind is also missing the camp, in her case because of illness. "I woke up on Saturday morning with a sore throat. I had been looking forward to the Mosetertoppen camp, but unfortunately I have to sit it out," the veteran said in a statement released through the federation. It is her second spell of illness in a few months, after she also missed Toppidrettsveka in August.
Neither skier has much time left to rejoin the team programme before the World Cup season begins in November. For Slind, the priority is getting healthy again. For Skistad, it is more about distance and recovery. Because of her special arrangement, she can carry on planning her own preparation until the season starts. The Mosetertoppen camp will go ahead without both of them until Friday, 9 October, leaving the final weeks before November's season opener.
