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Premiär världscupen skidskytte. 1-5 december 2010 Östersund

Say cheeeeeese...
Speedy and wise representatives from trade and industry pose during the first sponsor meeting, along with members of the national squad and the World Cup organisers. Photo: Kjell Bollnert

10 June was the date of a preliminary meeting for trade and industry ahead of this winter’s sporting celebration in Sweden, the Biathlon World Cup Premiere in Östersund. In comparison to this time last year, we are pleased to say that there are more completed agreement and it is noticeable that many companies are now planning for the World Cup as a natural part of their marketing.

“Yes, it’s our PB for the period up to 1 June. After a tough year last year, in which we still managed better than many other companies, it’s great that so may companies are back and want to work with us again. Their absence was not because they didn’t want to work with us, but simply that they had been affected by the global downturn and had been forced to perform some restructuring. Now they feel that we are the right channel for marketing so that things will get moving again,” explains Lisa Engman, project manager for sponsorship sales for the World Cup.

“It’s very exciting to hear about all the new ideas and solutions that are being planned. I’m particularly impressed by this year’s use of access from the VIP tent to a private stand by the final curve before the shooting range. Clever, practical and functional,” says Kjell Lundberg from Syre advertising agency, which has long been a biathlon partner. Syre was part of the development of the prize-winning Matrix-style marketing campaign for the 2008 World Championships, which were also held in Östersund.

Fun EVERY day during the World Cup week
One of the new items that was presented was that this year’s race programme has races every day, 1-5 December. In other words, there is also a race on Friday, which will most probably be held in the evening – a good start for a real After Work Friday.

“This programme will naturally boost the popular appeal of the event. It also means that we are now looking at reintroducing the junior races, with our future ’Ferrys" and "Helenas" on Saturday,” says Håkan Blidberg, marketing manager for the Swedish Biathlon Federation.

Some of the national squad joined the mingling at the sponsor meeting, including superstar Helena Jonsson, who emphasised that it’s fantastic to have the World Cup Premiere on home ground. Jonsson has two victories from Östersund in the last two years, and is in no way content to rest on her laurels.

In summary, everyone present looked as if they enjoyed each other’s company, which bodes well for the arrival of winter and our wonderful popular festivities.
 

Östersund Municipality has now produced around 52,000 cubic metres of snow at its snow depot, which will guarantee a season premiere on 1 November at the ski stadium in Östersund.
Snow production also means that there will be enough snow to carry out the Biathlon World Cup races on 1-5 December.

- We have had good conditions for producing snow this year, wghich means that we have made more snow than ever before at our snow depot. The idea is that we will be able to offer a longer track at the Biathlon Premiere on 1 November, says Joakim Halvarsson from Östersund Municipality, who is the man in charge of snow production at the ski stadium.

In 2009 a 2.6 km track was opened, but for this year’s premiere on 1 November the aim is to be able to offer an additional 2 km. This amount of snow increases the certainty of being able to hold the Biathlon World Cup.
This Wednesday the municipal’s rented snow thrower will cover the snow with sawdust to keep it insulated through the summer.
 

Over the last five days, more than 20,500 people have bought tickets to watch their favourites compete for medals at Östersund stadium during the Biathlon World Cup Premiere – a number that Gun Fahlander, chair of the organising committee, is pleased with.

“It feels fantastic now. I’m a bit tried, naturally, but in a good way. We have all helped to host a fantastic event that we can be satisfied with,” says Gun Fahlander.

She had expected that there would be a great deal of public interest in the races at the stadium, but not that so many would come and cheer for the athletes during Saturday’s prize-giving at Stortorget.

“The number of people at the square feels like the final proof that people really have taken biathlon to their hearts. It is an honour to be part of organising such an event, that reaches 50 million TV viewers and all the visitors who come here from near and far, and – of course – the athletes, their teams and our own wonderful officials,” says Gun Fahlander.

Development work for next year’s competitions have begun as soon as the day after the concluding relays. All officials are encouraged to give their opinion about how the organisation and work around the stadium can be improved at next year’s races.

“There are always things that can be better, regardless of how well everything has gone now,” says Gun Fahlander.

The organisers have had no problems finding people to work during the biathlon competitions – there has been so much interest that they have had to say no to people who register late. Many officials are very experienced following the World Championships two years ago, but there are also many new faces on the team.

And everyone knows that a good atmosphere is infectious – among the organisers, the athletes and the spectators or the stands and along the trails. Bearing in mind the biathlon festivities of the last few days, the 2009 World Cup Premiere in Östersund bodes well for the future, both in terms of the racing and the organising!

Sweden lost contact with the leaders on the second leg, but managed to finish fourth thanks to a sprinting Helena Jonsson on the last leg.

The Germans really went into it to prove themselves and stayed in front the entire time. One the two first legs they had to fight both China and Russia, but the Chinese team had given their best and dropped back.
But the battle between Germany and Russia continued and wasn’t finally over until after the last shooting. The experienced Kati Wilhelm took control and had the second-fastest time on the leg, almost a half a minute after Helena Jonsson. The medals were so spread out that they didn’t need to give their all in the finish.

- “It was important for us to have a good result, because things haven’t been so good individually. Now we can feel pleased and look to the future, but there are more relays before the Olympics and I would think the team management will try out different teams. However, it’s nice for all four of to be part of a winning team,” said Kati Wilhelm, who is one of the most successful women Olympians.

The Germans needed to use nine extra shots, just like their rivals, third-placed France and fourth-placed Sweden needed one more, but avoided any penalty loops, which affected the teams behind them.

Sweden was 1.49 behind the winning team, despite Helena Jonsson’s superiority on the final leg. Elisabeth Högberg’s result on the first leg (fifth) was a real cause for excitement.
- “I thought the skiing went well and just used one extra shot, I’m pleased with that,” said Elisabeth.

Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek was affected by problems that started in the prone bout, despite her experience.
- “I’m missed a shot, then another one, and didn’t know what it was due to,” she said.

She had to use all three extra shots, but avoided any penalty loops. Standing went better and a final push meant that she was in sixth. Anna Maria Nilsson, who used three extra shots, kept that place, even though the time to the lead had extended. On the final leg, Helena Jonsson passed the teams within reach, but had 24 seconds up to France in the last podium place. Helena’s standing shooting was as steady as always, just bang-bang-bang-bang and all the targets were hit.

China, Ukraine and Poland were the teams closest behind Sweden and Norway, which has a lacklustre team, finished only eighth, one and a half minutes behind Sweden, despite the team being ten seconds ahead of Sweden and the final changeover.

Anna Carin Olofsson, who was just eighth on her leg, at least managed to ski from Saturday’s winner, Tora Berger.

Thord Eric Nilsson
 

No one can be happier than a quartet of Frenchmen who win a World Cup relay. There was sheer joy in victory when Martin Fourcade crossed the finish line 13 seconds ahead of the sprinting Norwegian, Ole Einar Björndalen, in the men’s relay.

His brother, Simon Fourcade, who skied the third leg, and Vincent Jay and the veteran Vincent Defrasne wre not exactly downbeat about the fact that victory is also a burden to bear, that of being favourites ahead of the Vancouver Olympics.

Sweden, who won the pre-Olympics last year, showed that they are also up there. Their sixth place is the limit they usually set for an acceptable finish, but bearing in mind the margin, 44 seconds, it was actually better than acceptable.

France gained a little from their evenness and, at the changeovers, were never worse than fifth. Strangely enough, it was Defrasne who was responsible for them “falling behind” after a penalty loop on the second leg. In total, the team used seven extra shots.

Norway, were in the lead after the first leg, when steady Emil Hegle Svendsen came to the changeover on-tenth of a second ahead of France. But Alexander Os had “bad luck” and used four extra shots and one penalty loop, however he skied well and Norway were then third. Then it was Lars Berger with the flying skis’ turn to get it wrong. Prone went well, but he had two penalty loops in the standing. He caught up some time on the skiing, but… Ole Einar Björndalen went out in sixth, almost a minute behind France. Björndalen only needed one extra shot and passed everyone apart from Fourcade, who finished with a 13-second margin. Without the victorious gestures it would certainly have been at least 20, but he could afford it.

Austria, with the ranking and start number 1, started poorly but managed to finish third.

Sweden’s surprise was the starter, junior Fredrik Lindström, who shot clean in prone, but missed three in the standing bout. He was still able to ski in in eighth place, 23 seconds from the lead.
- “I was nervous on first leg, but it felt really good when I got going. The glide was good and the biggest problem was probably tat I’m tired from so many races,” said Fredrik, who was in the team that had such a good dress rehearsal on the Olympic trails in Vancouver.

Fredrik Lindström. Photo: Kjell Bollnert

Björn Ferry had two extra shots in the standing, but still moved forward because so many people shot badly. Sweden moved up to second place, 26 seconds from the lead. Then it was Mattias Nilsson’s turn.
Mattias needed two extra shots in prone, but made up for it in the standing bout, where he shot four rapid hits, but missed the fifth. The extra shot hit the mark.
- “It was my mind that messed up after four good shots,” stated Mattias, who is repairing his damaged reputation for being a nervous shot.

Sweden was now just eighth, 1.04 back, but Carl Johan Bergman tidied it up on the last leg and only needed one extra shot. He moved up to sixth place, just 43 seconds from winning France. That’s around four extra shots, which is the number that was necessary now, rather than when the team – without Björn Ferry – won the pre-Olympics in Vancouver.

Thord Eric Nilsson

In principle, they are made up of the four best Swedes in each sprint race, but naturally Björn Ferry is in the men’s team.

Women: Elisabeth Högberg, Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek, Anna-Maria Nilsson, Helena Jonsson

Men: Fredrik Lindström, Björn Ferry, Mattias Nilsson, Carl Johan Bergman.

Ole Einar Björndalen did the same as his compatriot Tora Berger and made a fantastic comeback after his poor individual race, where he was outside the points. Today he took his 90th World Cup win with a 25-second advantage over Östersund specialist, Emil Hegle Svendsen. The difference between them was the miss that Emil had in the standing bout, plus a little more.

Björndalen now has 90 World Cup wins, 89 in biathlon and one in cross-country.

- “I thought it would take longer to recover from Thursday’s disappointment, but I changed some equipment and that was enough. Today’s skis were more suited to my skiing style than those on Thursday,” explained the winner, who hopes for an individual win and to be part of a winning Norwegian relay team in Vancouver.

Emil Hegle Svendsen now has seven podium places in Östersund, but the World Cup is his second priority.
- “I would be disappointed if I won the World Cup but missed the Olympics. All the focus is on the Olympics, so I won’t be racing the last World Cup before Christmas (Pokljuka) or the last one before the Olympics (Anterselva),” said today’s satisfied second best, who has had the following places in his last seven races in Östersund: 1-1-3-1-3-1-2.

American Tim Burke won another podium place,37 seconds after Björndalen, shooting clean.

- “Getting on the podium in the 20 km was very inspiring and seems to have had a great effect at home,” commented Burke, who is the first American to have been on the World Cup podium outside of North America.

Germany’s men had more success than the women, taking the three places closest to the podium. Results were also even for the Swedes, if you discount Björn Ferry, who missed three in the prone. Perhaps is was a reaction to Thursday’s top race.
- “In the standing I took a chance on quick shooting. It didn’t work so I just have to concentrate on Sunday’s relay,” said Ferry, who wasn’t even close to the top 100.

Carl Johan Bergman was best Swede, in 16th, but today’s man was probably the junior, Fredrik Lindström.
- “Just one miss and good skiing. I am still pretty young,” said Fredrik Lindström, who guaranteed his place in Sunday’s relay team and has at least one foot in the Olympic squad. Like Bergman he had one miss. In his 19th place he was 1½ minutes behind Björndalen.

There was a move forwards for both Mattias Nilsson and Magnus Jonsson , 26th and 29th after two misses. Both Mattias’ misses were n the standing shooting, when a top place was within reach.

Thord Eric Nilsson
 

Tora Berger, Norway, recovered in the best possible manner from her disappointment on Wednesday (14th place) by winning a thrilling women’s sprint race ahead of Olga Metvedseva, Russia, thanks to a strong final lap. Finnish Kaisa Mäkäräinen took third place, one-tenth of a second ahead of World Cup leader, Helena Jonsson. The duo were ten seconds behind Berger.

Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek finished ninth despite three penalty loops. Once again, she was fastest over the trails, 16 seconds faster than Russia’s Lilia Vaygina-Efremova (31st) and 19 seconds before Tora Berger.

Olga Metvedseva, Russia, Tora Berger , Norway, and Kaisa Mäkäräinen, Finland. Photo: Kjell Bollnert

The seven first places has faultless shooting, and five of them were within fie seconds of each other after the second shooting. Chinese sensation, Chaoqing Song, was leading after the first shooting and was second after the second bout, but couldn’t stay with the pace on the final lap. Berger was fastest of those who had a chance of a medal and the Russian also skied fast. Helena wasn’t skiing at the same sped as the leaders, but was just one-tenth behind Mäkäräinen, who she beat by five seconds on the final lap.

- “I was a little nervous beforehand and perhaps I went out too hard. Previously I’ve started too cautiously, but I didn’t want to take the risk of having too much to catch up. That’s why I was tired at the end and I don’t know where I could have taken that one-tenth up to the podium,” says Helena, who had the seventh best skiing time, just seconds behind those at the top, except Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek.

She had energy left on the final lap and was fastest on all three laps, but shooting started badly.
- “I was sloppy so one shot went off early, and the two standing missed were also careless. Just one miss and I’d have been up there,” says ACO.

The Swedes’ places in the top ten are clearly god enough, as well as Anna-Maria Nilsson’s result, with only one miss (standing), giving her 21st place, 1.13 behind the winner.

Fourth place in Sunday’s relay is a difficult issue for the team management. Elisabeth Högberg was 54th, with one miss. Sofia Domeij was two positions and as many seconds behind. She compensated for her initial misses by skiing 45 seconds faster than Elisabeth.

Today’s winner felt it made up for Wednesday.
- “On Wednesday you needed a calendar to time me, now at least you could use a watch,” she joked.
- Two days’ build-up for a comeback was beneficial.

Second-placed Medvetseva was once again the best Russian, now 6.8 seconds from victory. Finnish Mäkäräinen was just over a second behind Berger on Wednesday. Now the distance was greater, but this time they were further up the results and Kaisa was extremely leased with her podium finish.

Thord Eric Nilsson
 

Almost two years ago, at the World Championships, he won two golds and last year he was on the podium in all three World Cup races, with a win in one of them. In the first race of this season, the individual, he had a secure win. Just like the three behind him in the results he had a one-minute penalty, but his skis were fast and he won by 35 seconds.

USA’s Tim Burke and Austria’s Christopher Sumann took the other podium places. Björn Ferry was, despite missing training due to injury, in the battle for a podium place. He was in with a chance of winning ahead of the last standing bout, but missed one shot. The question is whether even shooting clean would have given him victory as the winner was 1.01 ahead. But if it had been for victory Björn might have managed that second. Now he lost time on the final lap, which emphasises that the injury was more negative for skiing than for shooting.

Otherwise there were no Swedish bullseyes. But for the junior, Fredrik Lindström, and “novice” Jörgen Brink, the race was a step forward. They were, in reverse order, the next Swedes behind Ferry, but neither won World Cup points. Their places were 36 and 39 after three missed targets.

Foto: Nordic Focus

Just as for the women, there are seven in the Swedish men’s squad, which must be cut to five for the Olympics. The Swedish Olympic Committee only allows five men, four in the team and one reserve for the relay. Then there can be reserves at home. It is the relay that is the basis for the squad, and then the fours places in the individual disciplines are allocated between them. I will return to this problem.

The picture shows six of the seven Swedes in today’s race, where all of them – apart from the preselected Björn Ferry and Carl Johan Bergman – are fighting for a relay place.

From left: Björn Ferry (number 49 in Thursday’s 20 km race), who will be competing at his third Olympics. He had switched sport in plenty of time before Salt Lake City. Björn is 31, and lives and competes for Storuman. He was 17th in the equivalent race last year. Björn has two consecutive wins in the pursuit in Anterselva and nine podium places in the World Cup. As a former cross-country skier he is better at that side of things and was twelfth in last year’s skiing analysis, which was topped by Norwegian Ronny Hafsås (who won the cross-country World Cup premiere), Frode Andresen and Ole Einar Björndalen. Björn should have caught up with what he lost due to his broken collar bone.

52) Mattias Nilsson, 27, Östersunds Biathlon, the “home skier” in a men’s team where ”only” three live in Östersund. Mattias was the best Swedish biathlete (seventh in the sprint) at the last Olympics in Turin (San Sicaro), where he – as few know – won (!) his leg of the relay (the team came fourth). Has had problems shooting, but two podium places in previous world cups show his capacity when he’s on top form.

131) Jörgen Brink, 35 and the oldest of the Swedish men. Jörgen competes for Östersund, but lives in Sollefteå with his family. He is originally from Hälsingland. Many people have expected Brink to develop too quickly. He is only in his third year of biathlon. With three World Championship bronze medals in cross-country (2003), he has shown his skiing capacity and he is one of the ten best biathletes on the trails.

16) David Ekholm, 30, will almost have finished when Brink starts. David competes for Ekshärad in Värmland, but lives in Östersund with the well-known Helena Jonsson. He had a great World Championships with fifth in the individual and silver in the mixed relay. He shoots well in prone, but not as well as his girlfriend either in prone or standing. 35th in last year’s premiere.

74) Fredrik Lindström, 20, a name to remember from Anudsjö who represents I 21 Sollefteå, but lives in Östersund. Fredrik was one of Sweden’s best junior cross-country skiers, before  choosing the second of his two sports. If he doesn’t make the Olympics he can console himself with the Junior World Championships. But Fredrik was 13th in the sprint at the pre-Olympics and was part of the winning Swedish relay team. Didn’t ski the individual in Östersund last year, but was 47th in the sprint and will be better this year.

34) Carl Johan Bergman, 31, also competes for Ekshärad, but lives in Lillehammer with the Norwegian biathlete Liv Kjerstin Eikeland (second in Östersund three years ago). Carl Johan was ninth last year and has previous 1-2-3 podium places. Carl Johan has returned to a slower shooting tempo than the one that ruined his shooting a couple of years ago. An eye operation can also have had an effect. Clearly more reliable prone, but most impressive when he is on top form and then he’s better than the 15th he has in last year’s skiing analysis. Ninth in last year’s premiere.

18) Magnus Jonsson, 27, is not in this picture. Magnus represents Östersund Biathlon, but lives in Sollefteå. He was 53rd in last year’s individual here. His best result in a 14th place in Oberhof and a 15th place in the World Championships(!). Skis better than he shoots and, along with Mattias Nilsson, is around the 30 best in last year’s analysis.

Ahead of Thursday’s men’s individual we can mention the German, Michaeil Greis (now number 14) who won last year’s premiere, where Ole Einar Björndalen (no 12) was just 34th and this year’s cross-country premiere winner, Ronny Hafsås (no 87) was just 76. Ronny skis fast, but last season he had problems with standing shooting, only hitting with 6 or 10 shots. Compatriot and World Championship king here in 2008, Emil Hegle Svendsen, likes Östersund and placed 3-1-3 in last year’s three races in Östersund. This Norwegian is amazing steady when shooting prone (91 percent hits).

Thord Eric Nilsson has a 50-year background in journalism and was sports editor at Östersunds Posten (1971-2005). He now has his own agency. His specialties have included cross-country skiing and, in the last decade, Östersund’s major new sport, biathlon. Thord Eric will be writing columns and features during the World Cup.
 

Helena Jonsson and Anna Carin Olofsson were a top twosome – and clearly so – in the women’s 15 km individual. Helena was a worthy gold medallist, winning by 26 seconds from Anna-Carin. The duo were around a minute ahead of third placed Dayrya Dombracheva. Vitryssland.

Helena won thanks to her steady shooting, with just one miss. Anna Carin showed her skill on the trails, but had one more miss than her teammate. The result was historic – an absolute first for Sweden in the World Cup.


Complete results you find on www.biathlonworld.com

The winner, Helena Jonsson.

Photo: Kjell Bollnert