Flirting with the idea of hosting the World Championships at home: – Improving with age

Flirting with the idea of hosting the World Championships at home: – Improving with age

In 2029, the Biathlon World Championships will take place in Oslo. Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen (32) is not ruling out the possibility of being on the starting line.

Sjåstad Christiansen on the harmony within the team: – Very round elbows

"My feeling is very good. I try to improve year by year and tackle things a bit better and a couple of percent differently. I feel I have done quite well the last five or six years," he tells Max.

The Geilo athlete is ready for another World Cup season and will kick off the winter by competing in the mixed relay in Kontiolahti alongside Juni Arnekleiv.

Despite being 32 now, Sjåstad Christiansen feels better than ever. "Despite the fact that age is going the wrong way, my performances are going the right way. I'm happy before this season start too," he asserts.

He demonstrated this during the national opening at Beitostølen. The elite Norwegian skier delivered a strong performance, winning Saturday's sprint and following it up with a second place in the mass start event.

Even though he has not aimed for an early peak this summer, he has focused on being more patient. "I have switched off - not switched on anything at all. I have tried to be a little more patient. Patience comes with age, and not burning out in August, September, October, or November is important.

It's a long season, and there are many important ski races, especially with the World Championships coming in mid-February, it’s crucial to have both physical and mental energy for the significant challenges this winter. I hope I'm not in my best shape right now," says Sjåstad Christiansen.

World Championships at Home

The competition for Norwegian spots on both the World Cup and the World Championships is enormous. At Beitostølen, several junior national team skiers proved they can compete with the elite guys, and the top Norwegian stars must deliver to retain their World Cup places.

Sjåstad Christiansen experienced this last year: he was left out of the World Cup in Oberhof, but made a strong comeback later in the season. Even this year, he does not feel pressured to deliver from the start.

"I’m taking a bit of a gamble since I most likely won’t be in top shape at the beginning of the season. But I have to trust myself and my own abilities and believe that I’m good enough with the training I’ve put in over the past eleven years.

A lot of hours have been invested!" emphasizes the biathlete.

Every hour that the Geilo competitor has contributed since the start of his career has paid off well. The 32-year-old has only gotten better, and he sees no reason for that to stop anytime soon.

"I feel like I have gradually improved with age and have shown that I have better and better results. So World Championships in 2029, see you there?" he asks Max’ reporter.

In 2029, the World Championships will be taking place in Norway, setting the stage for a biathlon celebration in Holmenkollen.

"I will be the same age in 2029 as Tarjei (Bø) is now. He is still competing, so why shouldn't I do it?" says Sjåstad Christiansen, who is greatly impressed by what the 36-year-old Bø has accomplished in recent years: "He hasn’t been as good as he is now since he was 23 and won the overall World Cup. I find inspiration in him, and he shows that it is possible.

Despite the intense internal competition, the Norwegian men's biathlon team manages to maintain harmony within the group.

"There are very round elbows among us. Even though we have some secrets from each other, we are each other’s biggest competitors and best friends. We have a lot of respect for that line. When we’re on the track, we're competitors, but when we come home, we have a very good relationship. Nobody is overly grumpy, so we'll see how winter unfolds."

But isn’t there a bit of rivalry for spots?

"We are aware of that, so for us, there is zero stress living with it. Everyone acknowledges the reality. That’s just how it is. It could be much worse if we weren’t fighting for those spots," Sjåstad Christiansen answers.