The next season's alpine team has been presented and, as expected, Felix Monsén is not included. He is the Swedish speed skier at elite level and has not achieved good enough results for the Swedish Ski Association to invest in him within the team.
Instead, he will continue on his own, as he did last season, but with a bit more economic support from the Ski Association this year than last year.
I get more support from the association, unclear the exact amount yet. I have received a concrete proposal, said Monsén to TT during the SOK camp on Crete last week.
Needs a million
Not even the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) believes that Monsén's results are enough to get a spot in the top and talent program, so there will be no support from there either.
I had some hopes, but they did not feel that I am at the level to be a medal hope, said Monsén.
Last year, Michael Ortner was both coach and serviceman for Monsén. Now the skier has employed a serviceman and the investment will be more expensive than last year when the budget was at 1.2 kronor.
I need approximately one million kronor to add to what I have already secured, said Monsén.
"Nagging economic stress"
He says that he, despite the economic uncertainty, discovered last season that he enjoys making his own effort.
It was a setup that made me feel very well and when I feel well, I perform well, he said.
But it was a hell of a job and I lived under much stress, stress that was not just about performance and the risk of being a speed skier – more a nagging economic stress.
Monsén, who was away for almost three seasons due to injuries (knee and disc herniation), is pleased with his comeback season where he finished 16th in downhill and 20th in super-G in the World Championship and finished top 30 in the World Cup.
I am proud of myself, what we managed to do with the resources we had.
The 2026 Olympic Games have long been Monsén's big goal and it was the thought of Bormio that motivated him during the long injury period. But whether there will be any continued investment after the Olympic Games is unclear.
The goal is to continue, I really love skiing. But we'll see if it is economically defensible to continue.
Born: 6 November 1994.
Club: Åre SLK.
Merits: World Championship: 10th in combination 2019, 11th in team combination 2025, 16th in downhill 2017, 2019 and 2025, 20th in super-G 2025. World Cup: 10th in super G 2025, 13th in downhill 2021, three 15th-places in super-G and downhill.
