Around the corona-empty stands at the World Cup final in Östersund, the wind roared.
Then all the skiers in Saturday’s hunt start had problems on the shooting range.
That Norwegian winner Marte Olsbu Røiseland won despite four booms, and that Swedish star Hanna Öberg missed nine shots in the home arena, says perhaps most things.
– It is frustrating, said Öberg who had never before shot so many booms in the World Cup.
She did not succeed climb from Friday’s 52nd place in the sprint but finished last of the Swedes as disappointed 54th.
– I really thought I had a good view of the winds on the shot.
Hanna Öberg shot nine barriers in Saturday’s hunt start.
Photo: Jonas Lindkvist
For the former longitude star Stina Nilsson, who surprisingly qualified for the hunt start via a 26th place in Friday’s World Cup debut, did better – even though there were eight booms in her career’s first hunt start in the World Cup.
Nilsson climbed four places to a 22nd place, took new world cup points and became third best Swedish.
– It was very tough shooting, but hunting is a discipline that I enjoy very much, Nilsson said.
– It was difficult to keep control of the barrel. But there were many who toiled. At first I thought it was just me who was having a hard time – then there was almost a queue in the penalty round.
Now the Swedish Championships are waiting for Stina Nilsson next weekend, after which the plan is set for next season.
How do you sum up your first two World Cup competitions?
– Full of inspiration. I am very grateful that I got this chance and really look forward to another summer of good training.
It’s been a year since you changed sports. Could you have believed that you would be standing here today?
The smile behind the mouth guard is not to be missed.
– No, I actually do not think so. I have been very humble that it will take time to master this. So that I would hit all these stars that I look up to so much … I did not think so.
Best of the Swedes in the hunt start became Elvira Öberg who with “only” five barriers climbed from place 48 to 16. Veteran Mona Brorsson was despite the tough wind flawless after half the race, but there were four misses in total and place 17 in goal.
As a further illustration of the boom party:
Linn Persson was 24th with nine booms. Anna Magnusson 48th with seven.
The overall winner of the World Cup, Norwegian Tiril Eckhoff, finished second behind Røiseland despite four misses. Third Hanna Sola, Belarus, blocked five shots.
Read more:
Tired Öberg wants to learn to be strong all the way: “Will lay out a strategy”
Impressive World Cup debut by Stina Nilsson: “Super satisfied”
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