Strong criticism of the union's speed commitment: "Felt very rogue"

In 2015, the ski association started a new giant venture, Team Åre 2019, which cost upwards of SEK 20 million. The goal - to become a leader in the industry.

The bet would go on over the World Cup until 2022, where the goal was, among other things, to win the downhill race in Kitzbühel in 2021 and take an Olympic medal in 2022.

"Thanks to new sponsors, we have the opportunity to make a broad investment towards 2019 as the short-term goal, but we have damn clear goals for the continuation," Tommy Eliasson Winther told Sportbladet 2015.

But according to most riders and activists, the investment has been a disappointment.

- It was not as serious as it should be, there was almost never any training or gatherings, no one was in important competitions, you did not get any support. It felt very rogue, unfortunately, says a rider.

Several others also testify that they felt that there was no serious training attached to the team, and that there was no clear structure.

In SVT's World Cup studio during the championship last year, Eliasson Winter stuck to the effort.

- We will not have to change our ambition anything after this World Cup for the coming three-year period. We have built the initiative in a long and structured way.

But none of those we talk to who have been associated with the team know what happened to the bet after the World Cup in Åre.

- It seems to have run out in the sand, says one person.

- Now it does not feel like the speed initiative continued. Even selected riders who have been riding in the national team for several years are the ones that continue to invest in now. I think the idea of ​​Åre 2019 was great, but that it would be a broad investment in Sweden has not really kept what one promised.

Many people feel that it is promised more than what will be done from management teams.

- It is usually talked big in reality then the truth is not the same. It will not be as good as hoped.

- I do not want to sound negative but you have promised a lot, and you have not seen the pale of it.

However, Tommy Eliasson Winter does not agree that the effort was not serious.

- There is no evidence to support that thesis. Just look at the rankings on both the width and the height and see that we are better now than we were three years ago.

The investment will also remain, he says, but in new form.

- Instead of making a group that was specially selected, there is a system where everyone can get through. We moved Team Åre in 2019 and permanent it. We spend more on the European Cup and the World Cup and a little less on the banks now. Although visibility is less, speed is something we are doing in Sweden.

And the goals exist.

- We obviously have those ambitions, we have to have them otherwise it will be very difficult.

At the same time, the image among many respondents is that no more money is being spent on the European Cup. On the contrary, there is talk of a squeezed economic situation in Alpine Sweden and many believe that it goes beyond the active.

- There's no money, that's the only thing we know. You have to pay for everything yourself. Before the Åre World Cup, there were never any restrictions in the business. It is very special that there is no money. You wonder how things went, says one person.

- Previously we had trainings with the national team coach between competitions, but there is no money for it now. The only workouts available are in conjunction with competitions. The last time was last fall, says another.

Tommy Eliasson Winter says it is not true that austerity made after the Åre World Cup.

So there has been no austerity during the season?

- Yes, yes, but it's more everyday food. When the season closes, it becomes like its own little financial statement, sometimes the ladies pull over in the first part and sometimes the gentleman in the second. We were in Chile and in the US with the speed team, it became more expensive and then we have to take down the dimensions. It has nothing to do with the World Cup.

That it is conveyed that there is no money, is it something you recognize?

- I never conveyed that there is money either. I'm trying to talk about what we should do instead. I have a hard time answering that, there is speculation. We have a slightly narrower budget this year than we had last year, but it is natural when you have had a championship year.