– I was interested in Johannes Thingnes Bø for a while, so he can thank me, says Einar Hedegart with a twinkle in his eye.

He got in front of the star athlete in the second round, and put Thingnes Bø on his back. Hedegart wanted a good final, and waited for the 30-year-old to pass. But that never happened.

– Down a long hill, then I let him pass, then he said: “just go”. I don’t think he wants to go. But then I said “no”.

– You said no to the best in the world?

– He can drag me. The hierarchy is like that. He was the best, then he was gone.

– Then what happen?

– He went ahead. He listened.

– Did you manage to defend it?

– No, Hedegart answered dryly, and burst out laughing.

– Can be afraid of the seasons

When NRK said that there was someone who believed that Thingnes Bø could be thanked for his victory, the line was both interested and surprised. He guessed the oil maker, but laughed at the answer.

– Oh, Einar? he said, laughing.

– I think he did very well. Here I can lie and have fun, and then I’m stupid enough to get through it.

– What do you think about young people showing off?

– He’s a good guy. He impressed me with the way he skied there. If he doesn’t succeed the first time, at least he will succeed in the future, says Thingnes Bø.

He was in a class of his own last season. Stryningen destroys everything and everyone in almost every race he competes in, and there seems to be nothing new as the new season approaches.

At Lake Sjusjøen he worked hard from the start, and in the first seconds he started to leave his competitors behind.

Thnignes Bø had to go through the penalty round after the second shot, but nothing could stop him from winning the national opener in Sjusjøen.

– Many people have been thinking about this competition for a long time. Now we are finally starting, and there is nothing better than starting with a win, Thingnes Bø told NRK.

– Rivals may be afraid of this season, he is on the right track, says NRK expert Ola Lunde.

Sturla Holm Lægreid was second, just one second ahead of the day’s biggest surprise Vebjørn Sørum in third place.

Competition is tough for places

New selection criteria tighten places in the men’s national team.

Athletes who finished in the top 15 overall at the World Cup last season are guaranteed a spot on the team. A total of five people were able to achieve this last season, and thus there is only one match for the rest to fight.

This is something that many people want, and the national opening in Sjusjøen on Saturday is the perfect arena to show it off.

Filip Fjeld Andersen is the only national team athlete who is not guaranteed a place, and is challenged by, among others, Endre Strømsheim, Vebjørn Sørum and Johan-Olav Smørdal Botn.

On Saturday, Sørum and Strømsheim, who finished in 4th place, took the first step against Fjeld Andersen. He finished eighth.

Smørdal Botn beat Thingnes Bø and the rest of the elite during a test race earlier this week. In Sjusjøen it ended with five obstacles and a much weaker position.

– I failed miserably. It was really disappointing, Smørdal Botn told NRK, and said he would be angry for another half hour before he focused on tomorrow’s race.

A nightmare for Smidesang

Eiliv Smidesang was originally supposed to finish in 32nd place, but started late. The reason was that he forgot to deliver the skis for fluoride testing.

This season, an association has been implemented that prohibits the use of fluorine in lubrication, and all skis must be tested for fluorine before starting. Smidesang had forgotten about that.

– He forgot to deliver his skis by the deadline, but we let him in anyway because it was the first time we had done a fluoride test, says fluoride manager Vegar Rolfsrud.

He said that handing over the skis was the responsibility of the athletes. Smidesang didn’t get any extra time, but time started even though it shouldn’t have really run out. He started a few minutes late, and his race was ruined.

– Initially, there should have been resistance to starting, but we were generous because it was the first time, says Rolfsrud.

Smidesang was disappointed and didn’t say much to NRK after the race.

– Skia didn’t come, so it was a bit ridiculous. That’s how it happened.

He didn’t want to put too much emphasis on his mistake.

– Kind of rubbish, but that’s how it goes. It’s going well, Smidesang said.