Another fantastic SkiO season for the Norwegian Jørgen Baklid! He finishes at the top again, retaining the men’s World Cup title for the second year in succession. Magdalena Olsson, Sweden came back to take the women’s title after missing the 2023 season. Both won by good margins.
Magdalena Olsson ahead of Elin Schagerström (both SWE) in Saturday’s pursuit race in Estonia. Photo by Reigo Teervalt.
Olsson took second place in all three races in Estonia, but she won gold medals in Sprint and Pursuit in the World Championships in Austria in January. A very competent orienteer as well as a good skier, Olsson’s consistency has counted towards her overall win.
Second is the Norwegian Anna Ulvensøen, fifth in 2023, who ended 70 points down on Olsson. This strong athlete also has two victories this season, the Middle race in Austria and the Pursuit in Estonia. Previous champion Daisy Kudre Schnyder, Estonia and winner of the last race in the series ends up third in the standings.
Jørgen Baklid (NOR) in difficult conditions during the middle distance race in Estonia. Photo by Reigo Teervalt.
Baklid’s win this year is by 60 points over the still-improving 21-year-old Niklas Ekström, Finland. Baklid won three individual gold medals in the World Championships but none of the races in Estonia, whilst Ekström has again had a very successful season, winning two of the Estonia races (Sprint and Pursuit) and becoming double U-23 World Champion too.
The Swiss skier Nicola Müller has moved up 6 places from last year and finishes third, 10 points ahead of the highly experienced Bulgarian Stanimir Belomazhev.
In the U-23 World Cup, Niklas Ekström and Maria Hoskari have dominated the men’s and women’s lists respectively, both scoring 360 points from 4 races.
The Team World Cup, with points scored over 13 races in all, was won by Norway. Finland was close at the end to catching second-placed Sweden, finishing just 3 points down.
SkiO World Cup: top end-of-season positions
Photo by Reigo Teervalt.
Women
- Magdalena Olsson SWE 440 points
- Anna Ulvensøen NOR 370
- Daisy Kudre Schnyder EST 285
- Elin Schagerström SWE 248
- Maria Hoskari FIN 212
- Eliane Deininger SUI 175
Photo by Reigo Teervalt.
Men
- Jørgen Baklid NOR 430
- Niklas Ekström FIN 370
- Nicola Müller SUI 305
- Stanimir Belomazhev BUL 295
- Aapo Viippola FIN 285
- Eevert Toivonen FIN 245
U-23 World Cup (4 races)
Women
- Maria Hoskari FIN 360
- Idunn Strand NOR 197
- Ane Sofie Krogh NOR 190
Men
- Niklas Ekström SWE 360
- Tuomas Outinen FIN 225
- Jonatan Ståhl SWE 210
Team Norway celebrates Team World Cup-title. Photo by Reigo Teervalt
Team World Cup (13 races)
- Norway 229
- Sweden 195
- Finland 192
- Switzerland, 5. Bulgaria, 6. Estonia