Claims national team manager made a shock statement – bets outside the union

– We are simply doing it to get back the joy of skiing and motivation. There are a lot of great people and athletes in the association, but I feel there is a culture where people talk badly about each other, claims Anita Larsen.

The duo, along with Lars Andresen jr., are not part of the Norwegian Ski Association’s national team.

Now they will be joining forces in the newly started cross-country team Topp Paraski-Team. The team will be launched on Saturday.

– The main reason we are starting this team is that I have seen that we para athletes have been given low priority, says Trygve Toskedal Larsen.

The Ski Association responds further down in the case.

The Ski Association responds further down in the case.

CRITICAL: Trygve Toskedal Larsen believes that the para athletes have been treated poorly by the Norwegian Ski Association. Now he continues with his own team: Topp Paraski-Team.

– Heard things from those up in the system

Toskedal Larsen has participated in three Paralympics and several major championships since 2007. He did not get a place on the national team for the upcoming season. The Haugalender believes that the system surrounding, and the treatment of, para athletes has gotten worse and worse.

– At least in the last two years on the national team, I have heard things from those up in the system, such as “para athletes are just an expense item,” and that we should almost be happy that they bother to have us on board, claims Larsen.

– Who said that?

– Who said that?

– That’s what Ulf Morten Aune said. To me and to the team. I don’t remember exactly what was said, but that was the gist, says Larsen – who claims similar messages have been given on several occasions.

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OPENING UP: Toskedal Larsen says he has heard a lot in recent years.

NRK has spoken to others in the cross-country skiing community who confirm having heard similar statements from Aune.

Doesn’t recognize itself

– I do not recognize the claims that I have said this to either athletes or coaches. Throughout my years in the Norwegian Ski Association, I have always worked to lift the para athletes both athletically and financially, says Aune in an email from the Norwegian Ski Association.

Aune stepped down as national team manager after the season and is now listed as national team coordinator for cross-country skiing on the Ski Federation’s website. Per Elias Kalfoss has been given responsibility as interim national team manager for the upcoming season.

DOES NOT RECOGNIZE HIMSELF: Ulf Morten Aune, pictured here during the national opening at Beitostølen in 2023, does not recognize the claims made by Toskedal Larsen.

The national team athletes’ representative, Thomas Oxaal, does not wish to comment on the matter.

Toskedal Larsen also spoke out against Aune earlier this winter, when he withdrew from a possible World Cup spot in Trondheim in protest.

– After the season, I announced that I no longer had confidence in this management, and if there were no major changes, I would withdraw. When we were supposed to have an evaluation after the season, for the first time, no one from management was present at that meeting.

Toskedal Larsen claims he and the rest of the team tried to get Aune, Kalfoss and Cathrine Instebø, general manager of the Norwegian Ski Association, to attend the evaluation meeting after the season – but that he never received any response.

Cathrine Instebø

Managing Director, Norwegian Cross-Country Ski Association

Ulf Morten Aune

National Team CoordinatorFormer National Team Manager

Per Elias Kalfoss

National team manager, cross-country skiing

The Ski Association does not recognize this claim:

– Neither Cathrine Instebø, Per Elias Kalfoss nor Ulf Morten Aune have received any request from the para team to participate in the evaluation after the 2024/25 season.

– We have been in contact with the national team athletes, and they confirm that Instebø, Kalfoss or Aune have not been asked to participate in the evaluation, the Norwegian Cross-Country Ski Association stated in an email to NRK.

– I almost have to pinch myself

Now the Larsen duo will be investing in the newly started Topp Paraski-Team – with Trygve as coach. Throughout the summer, the team will have several training sessions before the start of the season in winter.

– It’s fantastic, and I almost have to pinch myself. The team we have put together is completely unique. The goal of the team is simply to show that it is possible. It may be a tall order, but I want to focus on the Paralympics and the World Championships, says Anita Larsen.

TOP PARASKI TEAM: The gang that will be going it alone this winter. From left: Ana Maria Danielsen, doctor Remi Andersen, project manager Hugo Myhre, Anita Larsen, Trygve Toskedal Larsen, Erik Senstad and Nicolai Woxmyhr.

In an information sheet about the team, Topp Paraski-Team writes that “the team will have at least the same offers as other teams at the federation level” and that they have set a budget of 5 million kroner per year over a period of five years.

The team has gained partners in Swix, Madshus, Bemer, Quality Care and Orthopedic Technology.

The long-term goals will be the Paralympic Games in 2030 – as well as the World Championships in 2027 and 2029 and an ambition for medals in the World Cup 2025/26.

– This year we only have three athletes. Really just to get the team up and running, but in the long run we want to be a team that can recruit new people. I feel like I have a slightly different philosophy on how to train and how to build people up, says Toskedal Larsen.

– Now it’s time to pick up the pace so that I can be a medal candidate in everything that is classic racing, smiles Toskedal Larsen.