Kristine Stavås Skistad Refuses to Wear Sunglasses: Cross-Country Experts Find It Unusual

Kristine Stavås Skistad, aged 26, has made it clear that she will never use sunglasses while competing. In her own words, she explains that she’s simply not the type to wear them and feels better racing without any. Her decision stands in contrast to nearly all her competitors; at the recent sprint final in Les Rousses, 28 out of 30 top athletes opted for aerodynamic sunglasses, with only a couple, including Märta Rosenberg and Skistad herself, choosing to go without.

NRK’s cross-country expert Martin Johnsrud Sundby finds the decision rather unusual. He points out that sunglasses aren’t merely a fashion statement but serve an important function by protecting athletes’ eyes from harsh sunlight, precipitation, and extreme cold. According to Sundby, good eyewear can improve one’s ability to read the terrain—an advantage he personally relies on during lengthy training sessions in freezing conditions.

Fredrik Aukland, another respected voice in the sport, shares this view, noting that so-called “fast glasses” are designed primarily for eye protection, not just to look stylish. In certain conditions, high-quality lenses can be crucial for maintaining optimal performance. However, Skistad remains unconvinced. She insists that she has always preferred to race without glasses, confidently stating, 'I was born to go without them.'

The article also touches on the individual nature of vision. Hans Torvald Haugo, head of the Norwegian Opticians Association, emphasizes that the need for eyewear can vary greatly from one athlete to another. He suggests that for some, including perhaps Skistad, bypassing glasses might be the best personal choice—even if, for many others, they provide a competitive edge.

This piece appears during the buildup to the sprint event at the World Championships in cross-country skiing (Ski-VM 2025), where Skistad is considered one of Norway’s strongest contenders. Viewers can follow the sprint live on NRK from 10:00, as the debates over equipment and technique add an extra layer of intrigue to the high-level competition.