August 31, 2012 – Norway’s cross-country ski teams have been located on training at various places across Norway and in Central Europe. All-round cross-country teams have started their traditional altitude camp at Seiser Alm/Livigno this week.

The training camp is scheduled until September 10, while some of the guys are to leave later on September 15. Petter Northug Jr. is one of a few athletes that are going to stay in the height altitude some extra days before of the World Championships in Val di Fiemme in February.

© Norwegian Ski Association

The men’s Sprint National Team has just arrived home from a successful camp in Trysil. Next training block is set in Meråker in September. Talented Håkon Mikalsen has not trained normally and national team’s leadership cannot figure out why. “This is still a mystery, but we will continue with the investigation. Håkon could not train normally,” coach Vidar Løfshus says.

Good news for Norway is that Didrik Tønseth is back in regular training after the injury he suffered in the spring. Kari Øyre Slind is also on her way back to the full training.

Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen is sitting out the training camp in Italy due to university studies and trains in Oslo. Uhrenholdt Jacobsen is actually inside an intensive educational period at medical school in the fall.

Also Tord Asle Gjerdalen did not join the rest of the squad and decided to stay in Norway and train at home. “Tord Asle has shown great progress during the pre-season, and he has found that he gets the most benefit from training at home,” Løfshus explained.

“The general status is that the teams are on a very good level before the early season. Of course, things can turn around. A great job has been done not only in elite teams, but also in other squads. Ski highscholls have also been in the full swing of the training process, claims Løfshus .