Olympic champion Lars Bystoel
was one of three notable absences for the Norwegian
team heading into the Four Hills opener at Oberstdorf
this weekend.
The 2006 Olympic champion in the small hill from
the Turin Games, Bystoel will continue to train
in Lillehammer while his compatriots compete in
Germany and Austria.
Bystoel will be joined in his absence by Olympic
team-mate Tommy Ingebrigtsen and 2004 Four Hills
victor Sigurd Pettersen.
Norwegian trainer Mika Kojonkoski has said the trio's
shape was not in the necessary form to compete.
Jon Aaraas was a surprise inclusion in the Norwegian
squad, but was not expecting much from his second
individual World Cup performance.
"I have jumped consistently well at the Continental
Cups and in training, and at the same time others
are not in a good shape," Aaraas told Norwegian
newspaper VG.
"I don't have any goals for the Four Hills
Tournament. I just want to have fun and jump as
good as possible."
Norway's team
Roar Ljoekelsoy
Bjoern Einar Romoren
Anders Jacobsen
Anders Bardal
Jon Aaras
Tom Hilde
