Cross-country skiing restructuring
National coach loses job after eight years
April 27, 2026 – 5:03 p.mReading time: 1 min.
The DSV is ending the Schlickenrieder era as national coach and is reorganizing the cross-country skiing team. Who will take on which role in the future and what will become of Schlickenrieder.
After eight years as cross-country skiing national coach, the German Ski Association (DSV) has replaced Peter Schlickenrieder from his position. Michael Bonfert will be the new head coach. At the same time, the DSV has reorganized the entire coaching team.
In a statement from the DSV, Schlickenrieder explained: “With Michael Bonfert we are gaining a head coach who is very familiar with our common direction of recent years and will continue to do so with a high level of expertise.”
Schlickenrieder will remain with the association in the meantime: he will continue to act as sports director. Since May 2025 he has held a dual role as coach and sports director. He carries out his position as sports director together with Wencke Hölig. Andreas Schlütter had previously moved to the management of DSV performance sport GmbH.
Under Schlickenrieder, Victoria Carl and Katharina Hennig surprisingly won gold in the team sprint at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. There was also silver for the women’s relay. At the Winter Games in Northern Italy in February, Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek won bronze in the team sprint, the only medal for German cross-country skiers.
The DSV announced the restructuring on Monday. The Norwegian Torstein Dagestad becomes the new men’s coach, Michael Bittner takes over the women’s team. Two-time world champion Axel Teichmann is moving to the role of Head of Performance – the 46-year-old was previously the women’s discipline coach.
