By Bengt-Erik Bengtsson
Translation by Kjell Erik Kristiansen
The movement to allow skating technique in cross country ski racing was much discussed and with very intense debate by many expets i the sport.
The development was concentrated to the very fast expansion of the free technique or the skating step (Siitonen marathon skate or step) as we called it at this time. When the delegates gathered at Landmark hotel in Vancouver May 29 1985, in connection with the FIS congress, one major item was on the agenda. “The future of the Cross-Country sport – to skate or not”. The technique itself was used since a long time in the ski orienteering sport when the athletes chose to use existing roads between the controls. I myself participated in this sport and I remember that 40 years ago I bought thin steel edges and mounted them on my Cross-Country skis in order to get more speed by skating on icy or hard packed roads. The former ski orienteering athlete Pauli Siitonen from Finland used this technique in competitions above all in Middle Europe, like Marcialonga in Italy or Dolomitenlauf in Austria, and his technique was called the Siitonen step. He used only a half step by pushing one ski to the left or right and the other ski was in the track. The step was used above all in the flat parts of the track.
Already in 1982 this technique was discussed at a FIS meeting and a proposal was made to the Cross-County committee that where tracks are set, only the classical technique is allowed. It stayed as a proposal and did not become a part of the rules and regulations. The FIS, however, treated on the skating step 1983 at its congress in Sydney and in the 1983 version of the ICR (International competition rules) you could read:
The skating step is forbidden
- – on the first 100 m (art 382.1 start)
- – 200 m before the exchange zone and in the exchange zone (art 382.5 relay races)
- – 200 m before the finish line (art 382.6) [1] The reason for these rules was to avoid obstructions in important parts of the tracks.
At the same congress one high ranked Cross-Country expert said that the courses being used in the upcoming Olympic Winter Games (OWG) in Sarajevo 1984 are so demanding that only 1-2 % can be used for the skating step (see minutes from the meeting with the Cross-Country Committee). This expert was totally wrong and in Sarajevo 1984 many athletes used the Siitonen (skating) step.
FÖRRE VÄRLDSCUPGENERALEN Bengt-Erik Bengtsson var en populär gäst bland skidintresserade i USA.
In March 1 1984, after the OWG, I started working for FIS as a Nordic expert. The former chairman of the Cross-Country committee Bengt Herman Nilsson (SWE) wrote in an article in Svensk Skidsport no 5/1984 after the OWG: “The skating step has come to stay. It is even beautiful when three to four skiers in a row race with forceful skating steps – they remind me of exotic butterflies fluttering in the wind”. His successor, the former Olympic champion from 50 km in Seefeld 1976, Ivar Formo (NOR), did not agree. We will come back to that later.
Now we are coming to the most important part of the development – the use of the double skating step, where you use the skis as skates on ice (like earlier described in ski orienteering). It happened in Kiruna (SWE) at their traditional games on April 5 1984
where the Norwegian stars Ove Aunli (he was by the way disqualified in the OWG in Sarajevo using the skating step in the finish) and Anette Boe won their competitions in a superior way by using skis without any kick wax at all. They had waxed the skis only with glide wax like in alpine skiing and thus they got a higher speed. I myself was announcer for the competitions and really got new impressions for my work within the FIS. The preparations for the World Championships (WSC) had started and as they should start already in January 15 1985 there was not much time for changes and tests.
Ivar Formo declared at a meeting with international journalists in the fall of 1984 that no one could be champion in Seefeld using the new technique with unwaxed skis. At this time he saw two possibilities to restrict the skating problem:
- To create courses more narrow and adapted to the nature and using smaller machines for preparation. “Back to nature!” was the battle cry.
- To restrict the skating step by hinders in the shape of nets etc.
Together with the organizers in Seefeld and the Technical Delegate (the World champion
from 1974 on 50 km) Gerhard Grimmer (GDR), we met at the glacier Pitztal in Austria to make tests with nets in order to restrict the skating step. We were supported by the FIS Council consisting of executing officers Marc Hodler, FIS President since 1951, and Gian Franco Kasper, General Secretary.
After a thorough discussion at a council meeting in Geneva Dec 7 1984, the Council agreed that a solution should be found to avoid that the skating step technique will dominate in the future cross-country skiing, but also agreed that the technique itself shall and cannot be forbidden. The aim of the FIS shall therefore be to accept the skating step technique as one of the possible techniques which are used on a certain part of the tracks, but not as the only technique as the tracks are badly damaged by the competitors using this kind of step. Therefore the Council commissioned the Cross-Country Committee to make tests with small nets between the tracks, etc. and to change the setting of the course in a way that the skating step will physically not be applicable on all parts of the course. [2]
“BENKE” håller igång än… Och han gillar fortfarande att vara i centrum…
We bought our nets from a Swiss firm, Baechler, known for its precision and accuracy and I still remember when I brought the invoice of 5 000 USD to Gian Franco Kasper and he asked me – “do you really believe in this?” I said yes. He shook his head sighing.
One month later I knew that he was right and I was wrong.
We made the first test in Davos (SUI) mid December and the winner, like in Kiruna, was Ove Aunli. He was the only one without waxed skis but he was strong enough to pass all the hinders. It was no success for the FIS and a Swiss paper wrote “why not use barbed wire, which is well known around the world.”
The same night, we had a gathering with a group consisting of athletes and coaches.
Participating athletes were Thomas Wassberg (SWE), Nikolai Zimjatov (SOV), both Olympic champions from Sarajevo 1984. USA was represented by Dan Simenau and Jochen Behle (FRG) also took part. In the group of trainers we had Venedikt Kamenskij (SOV), Mike Gallagher (USA), Immo Kuutsa (FIN) and Hansueli Kreutzer (SUI). In the discussion Simenau said that the American athletes wanted to have the skating technique based on the Olympic devise faster, higher and longer, whereby Venedikt Kamenskij then replied that the Olympic devise also says that all athletes should have the same chance, which they do not have in skating as it destroys the tracks for later starting athletes. Behle and Zimjatov wanted to forbid skating where tracks are set. During the meeting, I got a scrap of paper from Thomas Wassberg in which he wanted to introduce two disciplines: a classical one in which the skating step is not allowed and another one totally free even of concerning equipment.
The entire group, except USA, wanted a questionnaire to be sent to the national federations to introduce a skating ban in Seefeld at the upcoming WSC. The same night I left for the FIS Head office to get the opinion from the federations. It was not possible at this very late moment to get a unified answer. Marc Hodler told us to ask the team captains at the first team captains meeting if they could accept a ban to skate during the WSC in Seefeld. It could be looked upon as a smaller change of ICR but had to be accepted by all the present teams. The Technical Delegate Gerhard Grimmer and Ivar Formo introduced the question and the voting could start in alphabetical order.
The first vote therefore came from Australia “We don´t agree” and the question was dead.
The same technique as in the OWG was allowed. But it was no longer the same – it was the Kiruna technique with unwaxed skis that dominated the result lists. In the opening distance of 30 km the best athlete using the old technique was Vladimir Smirnov SOV, ranking 24th. It was not easy to fight for classical skiing at this time. The former General Secretary of the FIS Arnold Kaech, a real friend of Cross-Country skiing, wrote in an article in Sport Zuerich “One revolution swept the Ancient Regime away and it seems to me that a requiem for the Cross-Country sport should be read.”
The advantage of the Seefeld competitions were that all; spectators, press and above all the FIS officials were informed of the new technique and could discuss the future from something that they had seen by themselves.
The FIS Council met the Cross-Country Committee in Seefeld, and after this meeting the
Council made a press communication on January 25 that a Working Group consisting of the Executive Board of the Cross-Country Committee, medical experts, specialists on the design and preparation of competition courses as well as representatives for coaches and athletes should be appointed in order to elaborate proposals on the future of Cross-Country skiing.
This Working Group also already had the authority in the current season to make tests
within the remaining competition programme. The planning started and the chairman
Ivar Formo presented the different possibilities to restrict the use of the skating step.
- Introduction of zones where the skating step was forbidden to use. These zones should be at least 500 m long and located in areas where the diagonal stride was the natural way to ski. In a competition of 15 km, at least three zones should be established.
- Preparation of the tracks. The Swedish Ski association wanted to demonstrate the possibilities at the traditional competitions in Falun.
- Total prohibition of the skating step in one competition.
Some comments from my point of view:
- Zones worked very well in Syktyvkar (SOV) where the cold temperatures did not give any advantages for skiers not using grip wax.
- This created problems in Lahti (FIN) where one coach forcibly threw an athlete who did not respect the skating ban off the track.
Now to the Swedish test with preparation.
The president of the association, Sven Larsson, presented in his leading article in Svensk Skidsport 3/1985:
“There must be another preparation of the tracks – which means that the skating step should be retarding instead of increasing the speed. It should be possible already at our ski games this year to lay out narrow, single tracks in the courses with high borders on the sides. That will bring the athletes to use grip wax under the skis.”
Enough personnel for the preparation were not available so the President asked his home regiment for assistance. A great number of soldiers came to help the Technical Delegate,
the Olympic winner of 30 km in Grenoble, Franco Nones (ITA). They built tunnels and not borders. The team captains refused to start if these tunnels were not taken away – and so they were.
In the press and even in historic articles of today the FIS and not the Swedish ski association was blamed for this test- it was a hard day.
The last practical test was launched in Oslo (Holmenkollen) and here the Olympic champion from 1984, Thomas Wassberg (SWE), killed all further experiments with Zones etc. As you can see on the screen, he takes away some tapes with wax that he had gummed under his skis.
It seemed all experiments to restrict the skating step had been useless.
The established Nordic journalist wrote in Sport Zuerich 15.03 1985 under the headline:
Absurd
“Instead of devaluating the World Cup by new tests the FIS should remember the sportsmanlike rule that the
winner is the fastest between A and B independent of technique. The grotesque situation of today can be solved only by one radical decision either to ban the Siitonen step, which will eliminate the development of
Cross-Country and create a need to control that the athletes are not using it, which means you have to allow the fastest technique without chicanes. A middle way does not exist.”
During the season a lot of complaints came from many winter resorts where skiers using the skating technique destroying the tracks for the recreational skiers and also creating costs for the preparation. The responsible person for leisure sport in the Swiss ski federation, Josef Mulle, wrote a letter to the FIS concerning the preparation of tracks.
“The development of the skating technique has caused us a lot of problems. The tracks being carefully prepared have been destroyed in a very short time by persons using the new technique. The consequences can be characterized as disastrous. In order to give the recreational skiers better conditions, a lot of money and personal expenses have to be brought. We hereby ask you to stop this technique.”
This is only one example. We got a lot of letters especially from Austria with the same content. A questionnaire was handed out the trainers and athletes and they asked for a sport without any unnatural obstacles.
The Working Group met in Zuerich April 13-14 1985 and the FIS General Secretary greeted the following persons welcome
UIMPB (Biathlon):
Peter Bayer FRG, Kurt Hinze GDR
Cross-Country:
Ivar Formo NOR, Vendikt Kamenskij SOV, Stig Roland Bergqvist SWE,
Franco Nones ITA, Dietrich Martin FRG, Ekkehard Becher GDR (replacing Gerhard Grimmer), Taina Impio FIN, Bjorger Pettersen CAN and Dag Kaas NOR
Excused: Al Merrill USA
Nordic Combined:
Helmut Weinbuch FRG
FIS:
Gian Franco Kasper
Bengt Erik Bengtsson
Experts:
Christian Egli SUI, chairman Popular Cross-Country skiing
Anton Baechler SUI Track preparation
All reports had been sent to the participants in advance.
Anton Baechler:
“At this moment I see no possibilities to restrict the skating step by preparation.”
Christian Egli
He reported that about 20% of the participants had converted to the Siitonen step technique. However, in one competition in NOR, the Birkebeinerrennet, skating was prohibited. No control problems at all.
Medical considerations.
The new technique had in some media been called the Sulzer step, named after the world leading producer of artificial hip-joints. Others, like Dr Urs Rohner, former member of the Swiss Cross-Country team, called such statements nonsense. Due to the lack of satisfying examination and other experiences, the meeting decided not to involve medical aspects in the proposal.
Ski equipment
A written report from the Fischer race director had been distributed before the meeting.
He reported that a skating ski will be available on the market next season. The projected length will be the height of the person minus 10 cm. The width will be the same as that of the traditional ski.
Experiences of the different tests during the season.
The group decided that none of these tests could solve the problem in the future.
The main alternatives.
Three alternatives were discussed.
1) Banning the skating step
2) Allowing all techniques.
3) Introduction of two techniques
In the following discussion Helmut Weinbuch, in his capacity as chairman of Nordic combined, said that he could not have two cross-country techniques in the same competition as his athletes also must train ski jumping. He proposed to have the shorter distances and relay in the skating technique and the longer distances in the classical technique.
Franco Nones (ITA) and Bjorger Pettersen (CAN) repeated their opinion that the skating step should be allowed in all competitions, while Dag Kaas (NOR) and Vendikt Kamenskij (SOV) wanted to ban the skating step. At last the discussion was closed and Ivar Formo accepted a compromise under certain conditions.
April 17 Gian Franco Kasper sent the following letter to the National Ski Associations and to the FIS Council:
“The Working Group proposes that as of the 1985/86 competition season, the so called skating step (free style) shall be allowed for the short distances and the relays, but shall be forbidden for the longer distances and mass races, i.e. the freestyle technique shall be allowed in the ladies´ 5 km and the relay races, the men´s 15 km and relay races, the Nordic Combined 15 km and relay, as well as for the 10 km and relay races if UIMBP agrees. For the ladies´ 10 km and 20 km, the men´s 30 km and 50 km, the Biathlon 20 km and mass races the classical technique shall be applied. For junior competitions the same system shall be applied, i.e. allowed on the shorter distances and forbidden on the long distances
The following were the main reasons given by the Working Group for this compromise proposal:
- The Working Group wishes to preserve the “classical “cross-country skiing and avoid a separation between the top competition skiing and the recreational skiing.
- The Working Group wants to support the development of cross-country skiing and does not want to hinder progress.
- This proposal allows us to
a) observe the technical development
b) solve the actual problem for mass races
c) prepare the courses for the short distances competitions without too many problems (increase of the environmental protection)
d) adopt the competition rules step by step. - The Nordic Combined, however, had to select only one technique, as the competitors cannot train in 3 “disciplines”.”
The proposal was presented in the magazine Svensk Skidsport nr 6/85 where the Editor wrote under the headline
A remarking proposal will split the ski world.
“The son of the proposer was World Champion in Seefeld due to his good skating abilities. In middle Europe and North America most of the competitions will be organized on short distances , i. e. , in the skating technique and in our traditional long distances in Scandinavia the participation from outside will be reduced due to the classical technique.”
Let us now move to the FIS Congress in Vancouver.
The following members attended the meeting:
Ivar Formo NOR
Franco Nones ITA
Dietrich Martin FRG
Inga Lowdin Ladies Cross-Country Committee
Christian Egli SUI
Hans Stattmann AUT
Bjorger Pettersen CAN
Al Merrill USA
Paavo Petaja FIN
Stig Roland Bergquist SWE
Helmut Weinbuch FRG Nordic Combined
Ekkehard Becher GDR (substitute for Gerhard Grimmer)
Bengt Erik Bengtsson FIS (minutes )
The proposal from Zuerich April 13-14 1985 was discussed on the minutes item 7.
“A very vivid and thorough discussion showed that within the committee no possibilities of finding a solution on how to restrict the skating step or how to involve the skating step in the classical Cross-Country skiing could be found.
The points of view were very locked and varied from claims on a total ban (SOV via telex, NOR and FIN) to having the technique free (ITA, CAN and USA). Up to this point the meeting was open . The chairman decided to close the meeting. He then asked the following question: “Is the difference between the classical technique and the skating technique so big that we have two different sports?” The Committee agreed with two votes against (USA and ITA)
After a discussion the Committee unanimously brought the following proposal to the FIS Council
Before a final decision concerning the future of the Cross-Country skiing can be reached , the FIS Cross-Country Committee proposes that the following measures be taken for the 85/86 season :
A) The rules for ski equipment shall be the same as in the 84/85 season with one exception – rules for poles must be worked out in detail.
B) The World Cup competitions in Cross-Country skiing and the Junior World competitions (individual and in relay) should , by principle, be performed in 50% classical ski running and 50% free technique, evenly distributed throughout the season.
C) The performance in other international competitions is decided by the National Associations and the FIS Cross-Country Committee recommends that the National Ski associations follow the same guidelines.
D) Accordingly, at popular Cross-Country skiing events, the FIS Cross-Country Committee recommends that they shall be carried in a classical technique. The National Associations and organizer can, if there are extenuating circumstances, and equal conditions can be secured, allow skiing in free technique.
E) Competitions under item B) to D) above shall be noted in the FIS Calendar concerning actual Technique.
F) The FIS Cross-Country Committee will stress the fact that roller skiing on public roads can be hazardous and that the National Ski Associations are responsible for working out guidelines to avoid accidents.
G) Having collected experiences from the season 85/86, the FIS Cross-Country Committee will make a proposal in April 1986 to the Council as how the World Championships 1987 and the Olympic Winter games 1988 shall be conducted.
How could it come to this proposal? I have never pointed out myself in any connection but now I asked for the floor. I declared my opinion that it was not necessary today to take a final decision as we did not have enough experience.
The most important now was to establish rules for the two techniques concerning tracks and preparation, control, obstructions etc. As there would not be any championships we could really use the time to study the development.
At this time the FIS congresses were organized by a local committee and the FIS did not have any secretariat of its own. I needed help with typewriting and translation into proper English and I asked Bob who was our local factotum. “Where can I find a person who can help me?”
“Just ask my wife” he said and she then typed the text which you have read and which was delivered to the Council and two days later to the Congress which approved it by one vote against (ITA).
What happened then? Ivar Formo said in an interview to the Norwegian paper VG (Verdens Gang ) and its reporter Rolf Arne Odiin: “We have lost the fight against skating as the 50%-50% rule was accepted by the Council and the Congress and the question for me now is whether to retire or not.”
He retired the next year and was succeeded by Odd Martinsen NOR, who was appointed already at the congress to chair a Working Group analysing the new situation and the consequences for the sport. Odd Martinsen and his group did very solid work and could submit a report to the FIS Council.
Marc Hodler wrote in the FIS Bulletin nr 96/1986:
“The Working Group has submitted a very clear and comprehensive report. Experiences with an equal division of calendar events in traditional and free Cross-Country competitions were positive. Control was easier than expected. Continuance of this practice for the next two years and up to the next congress was approved by the Council.
The main points in favour were the following: The sport of Cross-Country will remain under the same rules and our Federation will retain control. All options as to the future of Cross-Country competitions at high level remain open. At the same time important aspects and interests in other fields are fully taken into consideration. This is the case for Cross-Country skiing as a recreational pastime as well as for its attraction as a sport for all and for the continued popularity and success of this wonderful sport with fitness fans on occasion of popular long distance races.”
Closing words
In the summer the UIMPB decided that for the season 1985/86 all cross-country techniques would be allowed. The final decision for the future would be taken at the Congress 1986, which then also confirmed the proposal i.e. that the skating technique took over.
The same happened to Nordic Combined in a Council decision 1986 and somewhat surprisingly also in CISM (military sport) with its old traditions in patrol competitions.
These three sports have one thing in common; they do not represent the broad masses like Cross-Country. If only one of the two techniques had been chosen as the only one, the sport has been much poorer.
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