The Norwegian Allround championships speedskating were held on 20-21 december on the natural ice rink in Gol. On forehand it was already clear that it would be an very exciting championship with many competitors who could earn a spot on the European Championships team. There were 4 tickets to Heerenveen, where the European Championships are, available.
It became a wonderful and very exciting Norwegian championship. Håvard Bøkko skated 4 fantastic races and became the expected Norwegian Champion with a big difference to the number 2 Sverre Haugli. Tore Solli made the podium complete with 2 really good races on the 5k and the 10k and next to that a decent 500m and 1500m. Lars Kvaalen ended on the 4th place followed by Henrik Christiansen on the 5th place and Øystein Grødum on the 6th place.
On Monday the 22nd of december the selection for the European Championships were announced on the website of the Norwegian Skating Federation. Håvard Bøkko and Sverre Haugli were directly selected, but Tore Solli and Lars Kvaalen not. Tore Solli the number 3 at the National Championships has to skate a "skate-off" against the number 6 Øystein Grødum on a long distance for the 3rd ticket. Next to that the number 4 Lars Kvaalen and number 5 Henrik Christiansen also has to skate a "skate-off" on a short distance for the 4th ticket.
I would like to show you the differences in results between the 2 skaters, that have to skate the "skate-off":
500m:
14. Tore 39.87
21. Øystein 41.54
1500m:
8. Tore 1.57.53
10. Øystein 1.58.34
5000m
2. Tore 6.57.63
4. Øystein 7.01.12
10.000m
2. Øystein 14.02.11
3. Tore 14.03.61
Final Results:
3. Tore 162.989
6 Øystein 165.217
Why is Tore not selected for the European Championships? Is a 3rd place on the National Championships not good enough for that? And why does he has to skate a "skate-off" against the number 6?!? We think this is completely ridiculous for the following reasons:
* Tore was on the, 1500m, 5000m and in the final result (much) better than Øystein . Øystein is only on the 10km 1.5 sec. faster.
* It is an allround championship therefore the final result should the most important result. In the final result, Tore ended 3 places higher than Øystein, with a difference of 2.228 points.
* There were no incidents during the National championships and before. There were no injuries or health issues, therefore the championship was equal for both skaters.
* The selection criteria for the Norwegian Skating Federation says that the results of the National championships are binding ("American selection"). Tore was 3rd so with the first 4 and Øystein was not (6th)
* Also the world cup races were a selection moment. Øystein was on the long distances most of the times better than Tore, but an allround tournament is not only long distances, the short distances count also and in the Nationals Tore have showed that he is better than Øystein, so what significance does a National championship allround has?
* The selection for the European Championships is made by Peter Mueller and Øystein Haugen. These are the coach and the sport chief of the national team but also from the federation team in which Øystein is skating. Tore and some other skaters are not in this federation team. It is not appropriate that the coach and the sport chief from some skaters in the federation can choose the selection for the international races like the European Championships. This selection should be made by an independent commission.
* It seems like Mueller and Haugen are not sure of the qualities that Tore has, but why should someone who is 6th be better? And why did they select Hege Bøkko, she has not even skated the limits to participate at the European championships, is that good enough?
* Tore will compete with Øystein for 1 spot on the team, while Lars and Henrik compete for the other spot. If Tore looses than there are 2 skaters at the European Championships that he has beated at the National allround championships.
* Why dit they made the choice to skate a "skate-off" for Tore and Øystein only on the long distance? It is an allround championship so you have to be good on both long and short distance, so a "skate-off" should be held at both a long and a short distance!
The Norwegian Championships Allround and why Tore should go to Heerenveen!
