The brothers Aukland Pro Team, Ragde Eiendom, change their name ahead of Season XII and become Team Ragde Charge. The team will be front figures in the Ragde Group’s new investment in charging and green mobility.
Auklands team was once founded as Team Xtra Personnel and was then the first private professional long distance skiing team and has since changed main sponsor and name a few times.
Three years ago, Ragde Eiendom took over the main sponsorship from Santander. During these years, Andreas Nygaard has won the Champion competition twice and the team has won the Pro Team competition once.
Now the team will be Team Ragde Charge and front figures in the Ragde Group’s new investment in charging and green mobility.
“Ragde has a significant portfolio in commercial properties and owns over 10,000 parking spaces. With Ragde Charge, we want to be an essential contributor to the green shift by facilitating charging and other sustainable solutions,” says Christoffer Pihl, CEO of the new company, to Langrenn.com.
The climate challenges are, of course, relevant for cross-country skiers. For example, in Nordmarka outside the Norwegian capital Oslo, there have been about 80 days of skiing opportunities in recent years. But, according to researchers at the Metrological Institute, this will be reduced to 50 days in 2050 and only 30 days in 2100.
“Even though it was a relatively good winter this year, it is worrying that there will be fewer days with snow and milder winters. This is a significant threat to recruitment,” says Anders Aukland to Langrenn.com.
Marit Björgen also shares the concern.
“I hope that my children and all grandchildren will have the same pleasure of going in Nordmarka as I have. Therefore, it is motivating to work with companies that take sustainability seriously,” says Björgen.
“It will be exciting to see if I can take some new steps next winter. The level in the women’s class next season will be incredibly high, so I have to improve myself if I’m going to win races. Second place in Vasaloppet was good but I want more,” Bjørgen ends with a twinkle in her eye.
Team Ragde Charge is in full swing preparing for the upcoming season and will debut under its new name in the roller ski race Kanalrennet on June 27th.
Top photo: Børre E. Helgerud.
