December 10, 2005 – One of the most exciting aspects of the 2005 Viessmann FIS Sovereign Lake World Cup is its international flavour. With teams and athletes from all over the world the energy and buzz at Sovereign Lake is high as the best cross-country skiers on the planet are set to compete for World Cup glory. Norway’s always a dominant force on the international scene and we sat down with Norway’s Hilde Pedersen and Trond Iversen to get their impressions of the World Cups in Canada and their preparation for elite level racing.

How long have you been on the Norwegian National Team?

HP: This is my second time being on the National Team. The first time was for four years starting in 1984 to 1988. Then I took a leave to start my family. After some years I trained in ski orienteering, made the National Ski Orienteering team and was the overall Ski O World champion in 1997. I then decided to try for cross country again and qualified for the National team in 2000.

You must have some amazing ski genetics in your family.

HP: Yes, I have three uncles who were on the national team, in Nordic combined and cross country – even before I was born.

How many children do you have and if you don’t mind the question, how old are you?

HP: I have twin girls aged 17 and I don’t mind the question, I am 41 years old.

Congratulations, you are amazing to be racing at this level. Are your daughters into cross country as well?

HP: Yes, they do race and enjoy it and I hope they will continue, it is up to them how far they would want to try to go.

Is this your first time competing in Canada?

HP: No, we were invited to compete at the Nationals held in Canmore Alberta in 1984.

What are the challenges you face as a mother competing at this level?

HP: I have a supportive family, but the time away traveling and competing is difficult to manage.

Does the Norwegian National team receive government funding or sponsorship?

HP: There’s no government funding now, so we manage with sponsorships from corporations. In the years prior to the Olympic Games in Lillehammer, the government supported the development of our ski racers so they would do well. But after the Games, the teams had to rely on other sources for funding. I think it is always this way with the Olympics in one’s own country, once the Games are over, the teams must find other ways to fund themselves.

How do you feel about coming to North America to race?

HP: It is good to come to Canada, we are all loving the conditions and the organization. The courses at Sovereign Lake are wonderful.. it is so beautiful an area.

What are your favorite race distances?

HP: I love them all, sprinting and long distance, classic or skate. But my favorite is the 10 km classic.

How many hours a year do you train?

HP: About 675. Some women train more, but it is not the total hours you train, but the quality of hours you train.

Will you be competing in Turino?

HP: I hope so. The team will be selected after the World Cups in Europe and nationals at home. I still have much training to do.

How do you like the courses at Sovereign Lake?

HP: They are very good, very technical. The sprint course is long and will be a test for us all.

What advice do you have for young Canadian skiers who want to do well?

HP: You must get out there and practice, you must work hard.

Interview With Trond Iversen
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Welcome to Canada. Is this your first time here and how do you like our snow conditions?

TI: Yes, this is my first time in Canada, but I was at Soldier Hollow in Salt Lake. The trails here are wonderful, there are 50 kms of freshly groomed trails everyday – that is very special.

How long have you been skiing?

TI: I began skiing at the age of nine, I am twenty-nine now. I remember my first ski race, I finished in second place and that’s where it all started.

How old were you when you decided to make cross-country ski racing your discipline?

TI: I spent some years trying ski jumping and I played soccer for many years, but when I was 16, I decided to focus on cross-country skiing.

Was Bjorn Daehlie an inspiration to you?

TI: I had some posters of him in my room, but I don’t think he was the reason. My club environment was such that lots of my friends and I would meet and train at the club, so it was fun. Then as I got older and started getting good results, that was the main motivation to keep me going.

How long have you been on the Norwegian National Team and are you continuing to get better with each year?

TI: I have been on the team for four years. My results have been a little bit up and down. I was sixth at the Salt Lake Olympics and last year I was third overall in the World Cup Sprint standings, so I am happy with my performances now.

How do you like the sprint course at the Sovereign Lake venue?

TI: It is long and hard, but it is a good course, a fair course and because the last 300 metres are just a straight away, the best sprinter will be the winner. It will be an exciting race.