Coach changes in Cross-Country Skiing

Mon, May  12, 2008 - By Sandra Spitz

As usual before a season with the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, the changes in the coaching ranks for the Cross-Country World Cup teams have been minimal. Here is a summary of some that have come to the attention of the FIS Newsflash:

In Canada, the new World Cup coach will be the Norwegian Arild Monsen, a former top skier, who is a FIS Technical Delegate and coached Team Trondelag in Norway last season.

As replacement for Albert Manhardt, the coach of the Swiss men’s team, Swiss Ski has hired 29-year-old Fredrik Aukland (NOR) while confirming that Markus Cramer (head coach & coach for the ladies’ team) and Trond Nystad (men’s sprint team) will continue in their jobs.

The Norwegians will continue to work with their existing staff around head coach Age Skinstad but have hired Per-Oyvind Torvik and the Dane, John Max Ertner, to support head sprint coach Ulf Morten Aune.

In the Czech Republic, a small change has taken place with an additional ladies’ coach Vladimir Slofar who will support head coach Vladimir Pavlata.

Some of the teams continuing into the season 2008/2009 with their current staff include Austria (head coach: Bernd Raupach), Germany (head coach: Jochen Behle), Estonia (head coach: Mati Alaver), Finland (head coach: Magnar Dalen), Italy (head coach: Silvio Fauner), Slovenia (head coach: Ivan Hudac) and France (head coach: Pierre Mignerey).

Some nations are still in negotiations, such as Sweden, and will announce the names of their coaches later.