Cross-country skiing is described by many as part of the Norwegian soul.
But today our neighboring country has stepped up in several other sports and has, for example, world stars in football, athletics and tennis.
Petter Northug believes this is one reason for his former sport's problems with recruiting children and young people.
- We have other world sports in which we perform and that probably takes attention away from distance.
Children and young people may want to become other stars.
Especially when we have a world star like Erling Braut Haaland, I think that many kids want to become soccer players.
"Clothes not the same effect"
NRK expert Fredrik Aukland thinks that the star shine that Petter Northug spread around him is missing in the national team today, despite a big star in Johannes Höstflot Kläbo.
- I don't think he has the same effect.
Northug had a huge effect on recruiting.
He created debate, you were either for or against him and it became a big thing in Norway.
Many looked up to Northug in a way that Kläbo does not have the opportunity to.
Northug himself:
- You should never try to copy someone, I should not copy Kläbo and Kläbo should not copy Northug.
Längd still has a strong position in Norway but when it comes to recruiting you want a big star and there are other big stars now.
With Erland Braut Haaland in City we will hopefully get more good footballers because we need that!
You have had Zlatan for so many years now, treat us to Erland!
"There must not be a war over the children"
The skiing association is well aware that competition from other sports is a major reason for membership loss.
Secretary General Öistein Lunde thinks that the most important thing is that the children start with some sport.
- Then we get to work on making skiing as exciting as possible.
There must not be an internal war over the children, he says.