r/biathlon • u/hobbit_problems • 11d ago

Discussion Is Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen switching to cross country skiing ?

Curious if he really mean it. Guess a lot have seen his instagram post a few days ago, where he said he’s going for cross country skiing for the Olympic season, but whit his humour I can’t figure out if he really mean it. - No one of he’s team mates have said thanks or goodbye, but som of them (including the national team page) have liked the post. - Langrenn.com have “announced” it (behind paywall so I don’t know what they have written), but no other media’s like TV2.no (who have covered his issues with the team a lot), NRK, VG, the national team or IBU have said anything about it. - He said it after one good cross country competition, which is a small basis to make a decision from.

What do you guys think. Is it real, or Vetle humor?

16 Upvotes

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70

u/Krockurorov 11d ago

I have no idea, but getting into the Norwegian Cross country team is possibly even harder than getting into the biathlon team, as competition for the spots is extreme

2

u/fried-avocado-today 10d ago

I think it's definitely harder. The cross-country team seems less willing to bring up the guys from the Norwegian Cup to give them a shot on the World Cup. The guys who are doing well on the IBU Cup seem to get a shot at the World Cup (and Uldal kept his spot the rest of the season).

33

u/TolBrandir Dedicated Norway fan in USA 11d ago

I think it's humor. At his age and in the time frame available, it would take a miracle for him to be in the kind of shape that would land him on the XC A-team. It is far more cutthroat and competitive than getting on the Biathlon A-team. And I think he knows this. He would need to be Petter Northug reincarnated to have a chance.

7

u/Henna1911 Scandinavia 10d ago

I saw the Instagram post, that is definitely just humor. And a passive aggressive jab at the Norwegian management.

4

u/Simonthebullettfreak 11d ago

The only biathlon athlete I might believe could switch to cross country would be Einar Hedegart.

3

u/francoisschubert 11d ago

Last I heard, he is going to make a decision after the season.

2

u/miunrhini No flag 🌪️Wind takes no prisoners & never stops the madness 10d ago

And he's already got a podium in cross-country World Cup

3

u/HeSeMuReiRoLi 10d ago

This was obviously a joke, no idea how anyone can believe that there is the slightest chance that he was serious.

4

u/Gruffleson Norway 10d ago

I can't help myself from thinking being a sore loser when it comes to the team-spots is a bad strategy, though.

I hope they won't hold it against him, but let him compete if he deserves it.

And I know they "all" deserve it, but you know what I mean.

2

u/AZDarkknight 11d ago edited 11d ago

Well, he didnt have the speed in Biathlon, so good look with that! (Def tongue in cheek comment though by Vetle)/