Udnes Weng Regrets Comment Towards Stavås Skistad: 'Got a Little Sweaty in My Hands'

During a press conference ahead of the Women’s sprint event at the Ski World Championships 2025 in Trondheim, Norwegian skier Lotta Udnes Weng joked about her teammate Kristine Stavås Skistad. On the podium, Udnes Weng made a comment that would later leave her feeling a bit uneasy – she mentioned that it got her "a little sweaty in her hands."

After the conference, when asked to elaborate on her remark to NRK, Udnes Weng explained that although the comment was meant in humor, she regretted it shortly afterward. "I got a little sweaty in my hands after saying it, and I kind of regretted it a bit. But I hope she understood it was a joke," she said.

Teammate Julie Myhre later commented that the joke was well-delivered and deserved kudos, adding that despite some nerves about whether it might have been too harsh, the overall team spirit remained positive. Myhre described Skistad as not only a top athlete but also a generous team player who shares advice and contributes positively to the group dynamics.

The article also notes that the Norwegian women’s team is gearing up for the championships in Trondheim. Incidentally, the team's head coach Sjur Ole Svarstad has fallen ill, leading to former champion Marit Bjørgen stepping in as temporary head coach. Despite not being the favorite, coach Bjørgen expressed strong confidence in the team’s ability to contend for top honors.

Skistad herself, known for her image as both mysterious and outspoken, took the joke in stride – emphasizing that if anyone truly understands a joke, it’s her. With the sprint event just around the corner, she remains focused on performing at her best, downplaying favoritism debates and stressing the importance of extracting the maximum from every race.

This light-hearted yet revealing exchange among Norway’s top cross-country skiers offers a glimpse into the personal side of elite sport at an international level, as the team navigates both competitive pressures and interpersonal rapport ahead of the championships.