 Already at the 2005–06 World Cup opener in Beitostølen, in November 2005, he collected his first World Cup points with a twelfth place in the 15 km event.He followed up with a thirteenth and a fifteenth place in December, in Canmore and Nové Město respectively.In January 2006 in Lago di Tesero he finished among the top ten for the first time, with a seventh place in the 30 km event.