Madshus has dominated the long-distance scene for years, and for the upcoming season, the team signs a couple of additional ringers to the marathon team lineup: Swix Ski Classics overall champion 2014 Johan Kjoelstad (NOR) and Oeystein Pettersen (NOR), who both race with the professional long-distance team United Bakeries.
“We are really excited to add Kjoelstad and Pettersen to the marathon team,” says Per Wiik, Global Marketing Director at Madshus.
Kjoelstad and Pettersen switched to Madshus without hesitation after trying the new Redline skis this spring. They join their United Bakeries teammate John Kristian Dahl (NOR), another former national sprint team racer who has been on Madshus skis for years.
“After testing, both Johan Kjoelstad and Oeystein Pettersen firmly believe the Madshus Redline products are superior in the long-distance events,” Wiik says, adding that they are hardly alone.
“With the launch of the Redline products, we have experienced incredible interest in the Madshus team, both from the professional long-distance and World Cup circuits as well as from the general Birkebeiner and Worldloppet segment,” Wiik says.
“Just in the first season, we’ve had literally ten times as much demand for the Redline products than we expected,” he says, noting that results speak loudly.
“The marathon events are becoming more and more popular, both with elite racers as well as recreational skiers. It’s important for us to be present where our customers are,” Wiik says.
Kjoelstad and Pettersen come to the marathon circuit from a national sprint team career. Kjoelstad made the switch from sprint to marathons a couple of years ago, while Pettersen has just completed his final season with the Norwegian national sprint team.
However, Pettersen already got his toes wet on several occasions this season, posting an impressive fourth place in Koenig Ludwiglauf (GER) in February and a 28th place in Vasaloppet on March 2 only 35 seconds behind Vasaloppet winner and Madshus Marathon teammate Dahl – all while still racing World Cup sprint events.