Magnus Moan: "Hopefully
Sweden is going to open its eyes to Nordic Combined!"
When the Nordic Combined World Cup will stop at
Falun as the last venue of the 2013/14 season, it
will mean a return to Swedish soil after 15 years
of World Cup absence. And while Sweden is a very
strong nation in cross-country skiing, Nordic Combined
is a very small sport in the Scandinavian country.
A pity, as multiple World Championship and Olympic
medallist Magnus Moan from neighbouring Norway told
to the Falun2015 newsletter.
"It is obviously a great challenge to have
a body that is suitable for ski jumping and simultaneously
has the strength and endurance required for cross-country
skiing", the Norwegian explains about his sport.
"And it definitely a little bit crazy to take
off at 90 km/h and throw yourself in the air from
a jumping hill. But I really enjoy Nordic Combined.
It’s about mastering these daily challenges. When
you succeed, it is an amazing feeling", says
Moan who won two bronze medals at the home World
Championships in Norway in 2011.
The 30 year-old won his first international medal
at the highest level at the FIS Nordic World Ski
Championships 2005 in Oberstdorf, Germany. Another
eight World Championships and Olympic medals have
followed since. The only glaring hole remaining
on his re'sume' is the lack of a gold medal: "My
goal for the winter is to leave my mark on all the
competitions that I participate in. And my sights
are of course set at taking an Olympic medal in
Sochi!"
Moan’s competition season will begin at the end
of November when the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup
gets underway in Kuusamo, Finland. Last season he
finished fifth in the overall World Cup. Previously
he has collected two second-place and two third-place
finishes in the season rankings. This World Cup
season with conclude with the pre-World Championships
in Falun: "That is something I am really looking
forward to. I have never been to Falun before. But
I both hope and believe that the hills and courses
are going to be good and that the competition will
be held in fine conditions."
2015 will be another chance for the tall Norwegian
to compete at World Championships in the North of
Europe. That’s when Falun hosts the event: "I
will do my very best to create a great atmosphere
at the stadium in Falun with the many Norwegians
who will attend the World Championships on site.
And I also hope to help the Swedish people finally
open their eyes to Nordic Combined, which is one
of the most challenging winter sports", concludes
Moan.
