By Inge Scheve
Madshus’ rising stars kicked off the 2024 IBU European Championships with a double victory on day one.
Over the five days of the championships in Bresno-Osrblie (SVK), the two Norwegian biathletes Vebjørn Sørum and Johan-Olav Botn took home five medals, including three gold and two silver. Part of their success they credit to the revolutionary new skating system: the Redline SkateX.
Two days prior to the championships, they unpacked their new weapons: An all-new boot and binding system named Redline SkateX, a revolutionary concept developed by Madshus and the binding manufacturer Rottefella. With the new innovative system, the boot now locks into the ski directly under the forefoot rather than in front of the toe.
“The new solution puts the pressure right under the ball of your foot, which allows you to push harder and more forcefully into the snow and generate more energy. You also get a more direct return after pushing off, and there is no delay in the flex,” Sørum explains when showing off SkateX publicly for the first time.
Now that the cat’s out of the bag and with the IBU World Championships in Nove Mesto (CZE) coming up in February, we are excited!
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Photo by: Nordic Focus
But biathlon is not the only game in town where Madshus athletes love winning: At the 2024 Ski Orienteering World Championships in Ramsau (AUT), Team Madshus racers took home six gold medals: Jørgen Baklid (NOR) won all three individual events (sprint, pursuit and middle distance) as well as the mixed relay, while Anna Ulvensøen (NOR) won the middle distance and the mixed relay.
Additionally, Teodor Moe Hjelseth (NOR) took home the bronze in the middle distance, upping the total medal count to seven.
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Photo by: IOF
Finally, at the FIS cross-country World Cup, Vilde Nilsen won all four races in the first World Cup round of the season for para athletes, which took place in Toblach (ITA) on January 24 through 28, and Edvin Anger helped Sweden to second place in the mixed relay at the World Cup in Goms (SUI) on Friday.
Photo by: NSF