Frode Estil

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Frode Estil (born May 31, 1972 in Lierne in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway) is a Norwegian cross-country skier. He currently lives in Meråker with his wife Grete whom he married in the summer of 2001. They have one son, Bernhard, born in August 2002.

Estil is something of a classical specialist. Although he is competent in skating, he is one of the world's best in the classic style. Estil's first World Cup victory was in 1999 in the 30km event at Davos. He won his first gold medal in an international championship in the relay in the 2001 Nordic skiing World Championships in Lahti, where he also took silver in the 30km. His first Olympic gold was in the 10km + 10 km Combined Pursuit Men (Tied with Thomas Alsgaard) at the 2002 Winter Olympics, as although he finished behind Johann Mühlegg in the race, Mühlegg was disqualified by the IOC in February 2004. In the same Olympic Games he also won a silver medal in the 15 km Classical race, and a gold medal on the 4 × 10 km Relay together with Thomas Alsgaard, Kristen Skjeldal and Anders Aukland. At the 2003 World Championships, Estil won a gold (4 x 10km relay) and a bronze in the 30km.

At the 2005 World Championships in Oberstdorf, Estil won a bronze medal in the 30 km double pursuit race and a gold medal in the 50 km race.

At the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy, Estil won the silver medal in the 30km Men's Pursuit competition after taking a fall and breaking a ski at the start of the race which put him in last place. He currently has 12 championship medals (Olympics: 2 gold, 2 silver, World Championships: 4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze).

Estil has been competing in the World Cup since 1995/96, his highest final standing being 5th. In 1995/96 he finished 42, and in 1996/97 he finished 63. The year after however he jumped up to 12th. The following two years he finished 19th and 12th. Finally in the 2000/01 season he finished inside the top ten of the world, finishing in 8th. The next season (2001/02) was even better for Estil, not only did he get married earlier in the summer but he finished in 5th place overall, his ever highest overall ranking. The next two seasons he finished in 6th. After the 2002/03 season he stopped competing in the sprint events after finishing in 58th, having ranked 48th (1996/97), 18th (1997/98), 18th (1998/99), 32nd (1999/00), and 39th previously (2001/02). In 2003/04 he finished 3rd in the distance standings. 2004/05 was a poor season, finishing in 14th in the distance, and 25th in the overall. Estil finished the 2005/06 season in 9th place in the FIS World Cup standings, 456 points behind winner Tobias Angerer. Estil finished 4th in the distance, 420 points behind Angerer, and again did not compete in the sprints.

Estil has had 18 World Cup podium finishes. Four of them in 1st place, six in 2nd place and eight in 3rd place. His wins came in 1999/00, 2002/03 and two in 2003/04. The most podium finishes he has had in a single season was in 2002/03, where he had four (one win, two 2nd, and one 3rd). He had three podiums in the seasons either side of that season. All of his wins have been in the classic style, except one double pursuit (in which the first half of the race is in the classical technique).

The 15km is his most successful event in terms of numbers of podium finishes. Through the years he has had one win, three second places and three third places. His most successful event in terms of wins is the 30km, where he has had three (also one second and one third).

Trivia

Estil has a high hemoglobin level, and has received a blood-certificate by the FIS, so that when his blood is tested the maximum hemoglobin allowed to race is 17.5 grams hemoglobin per 100ml of blood, compared to 17 grams for men and 16 grams per 100ml for athletes without this certificate.

Frode enjoys hunting and is also a huge fan of Leeds United.

Frode's mother, Berna, works in a school; his father, Kjell, is a carpenter.

Estil has had a hill in Soldier Hollow named after him after his three medals in the 2002 Winter Olmpics (Soldier Hollow was where the cross country events of the games took place in Salt Lake City).

Frode Estil was named Norwegian sportsman of the year in 2001.

Norwegian men have to spend a year in the military, but Estil only served for three months because he was an athlete. Although he does now have to serve five days a year as part of Norway's version of the National Guard, his 2005 service was excused though because it coincided with the World Championships in Oberstdorf.

External links

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