Listening, Learning, and Moving Forward: The 40 km Women’s Race at Janteloppet

Over the past week, Janteloppet has been the subject of intense discussion. That’s understandable — most of the voices raised come from a place of real passion for our sport, and we don’t take that lightly. At the same time, it’s important for us to share the facts, clarify our position, and explain how we move forward — with respect, with resolve, and with the best interests of cross-country skiing at heart.

Janteloppet 2025 - Start line 20 km recreational race.

The Facts

• The 40 km women’s elite race is a FIS-sanctioned competition, governed by the rules of the International Ski Federation.

  
  

• This year, the race was cancelled by the official jury due to low participation (only 14 athletes registering).

  
  

• The jury followed all FIS regulations, and no rules were broken in making the decision to cancel the race.

  
  

• All 14 registered athletes were contacted directly and offered either a full refund or a free transfer to the 20 km recreational race.

  
  

• To our knowledge, none of the 14 participants raised any complaints. They were well-informed and given fair, transparent alternatives.

  
  

• The 20 km race has always been a recreational event, intended for mass participation and not structured around prize money or elite competition.

Our Position

We take seriously the concerns raised by athletes like Astrid Øyre Slind and Ebba Andersson. Their protests are rooted in deep commitment to the sport, and we welcome that passion.

We also want to be clear: Janteloppet has not reduced any women’s prize money. The 40 km elite race was cancelled due to low participation. The 20 km is not an equivalent race, and the prize pool we introduced there was a voluntary addition — not a subtraction.

The Way Forward

Janteloppet is now one of the most visible events in the world of cross-country skiing — and we welcome the responsibility that comes with that spotlight.

Over the past week, we have been in deep and open conversations with top female athletes, listening carefully to their experiences, feedback, and frustrations. These conversations have not only helped us understand the reaction to this year’s race cancellation, but also illuminated some of the root causes behind lower participation in long-distance women’s racing.

Some of the important themes we’re now exploring include:

• Adapting the race distance for women’s elite competition to 30 km or 20 km, to better reflect athlete preferences and seasonal calendars.

  
  

• Restructuring prize money to create a more even distribution across the top 20 finishers — reducing the drop-off and rewarding a broader field of athletes.

We will:

• Continue this dialogue with athletes, both elite and emerging, to co-create solutions that strengthen women’s racing at Janteloppet.

  
  

• Work closely with Norges Skiforbund (the Norwegian Ski Federation) and FIS to ensure we’re aligned on structure, standards, and ambition.

We’re not perfect. But we are honest. And we’re here for the long run — for the sport, for the athletes, and for progress.