October 31, 2010 – Norwegian Ski Association announced at its convention in Ullevål nomination criteria for the biggest highlight of upcoming season, Nordic World Championships in Oslo 2011. “Our team will be selected latest 18 days before the World Champs, we will know probably right after the national championships in Steinkjer,” explained national team manager Åge Skinstad.

Team composition will be determined by actual results from the World Cups and from current and previous season. “In case of any doubts we will take into consideration performance at the National Championships in Steinkjer” added Skinstad.

A maximum of 18 athletes will be selected for the national squad to fight in all disciplines for both sexes. The athletes will be picked up on the following:

• Medal candidates for individual races
• Medal candidates relay
• Points candidates
• If there are any left places these will be filled by athletes with development possibilities and who needs experience for future championships.

The priority for National Athletes
The WC in Gällivare and Kuusamo will take place one and two weeks after the national opener in Beitostølen. There is no aim for the athletes to be in top shape for these events. “We will not use the American selection system after the national opening in Beitostølen. National Athletes have a clear priority for both these WC’s” said Skinstad.

In the Mini-Tour in Kuusamo- Ruka Triple,  Norway can start with nine athletes for women and men in addition to the free spaces.

“In the World Cup we will start with who we think are the best athletes as a team. These are athletes who can win medals in individual races and overall. For the first races the national athletes will be prioritized. We  invest the most time in them during the season” explained Skinstad.

Petter Northug Jr. as a winner of the overall WC last year will have a free spot for all the World Cup races. There are six spots in the quota until New Year. In addition, the Scandinavian Cup winners, Ingvild Flugstad Østberg and Kristian Tettli Rennemo, will have a free spot until Christmas. After New Year the quoatas will have some changes based on the results.

Norway can have a total of nine athletes for each gender in Tour de Ski, but there is no intention to fill these quotas. The goal of the Tour de Ski is to be competitive at the highest level in each of the individual races and overall. Norway will most likely start with 12 qualified athletes.