Technique Specialization

There are two somewhat different ways in which you could be considered a skating or classic specialist.  First, you can be noticeably better at one technique than the other.  Second, you could just only do races of one technique or the other.

These two situations might overlap, or they might not.  In any case, they are easier to consider separately.  Let’s look first for skiers who specialize via participating primarily in one technique or the other.  Some ground rules: I’m going to toss skiers with fewer than 30 WC, OWG or WSC races in their career, pursuits with a break will count as one classic race and one skate race, pursuits without a break will count as half of classic race and half of a skate race.

We could get picky about changes over time, particularly with changes in the number of classic/skate races available on the schedule each season, but I’m going to ignore that for now.  Also, keep in mind that there will be skiers here who’s careers extend beyond my database, so the data for them is incomplete.  Requiring at least 30 races weeds out the more extreme examples of this, but not all.

First let’s look at the distribution of the percentage of skate and classic races by athlete for their entire career:

This is a tad redundant since the skate and classic proportions will always add up to one, so the densities in each row are just mirror images of each other.

The overwhelming majority of skiers are pretty balanced, doing roughly half skating and half classic races.  Oddly, the men’s distributions have slightly fatter tails than the women’s indicating that there are more men doing races of just one technique than women.

The interesting aspect of this is not the normal people, it’s the abnormal people, and there are a few.  You can check them out for yourself in the following tables (you can sort the tables using the column headers; my apologies to RSS readers, you’ll have to visit the actual page for these features):

Name	Nation	Classic	Skate	Total
AASEN Geir Ludvig	NOR	0.372	0.628	39
AASMAE Meelis	EST	0.649	0.351	47
ALBARELLO Marco	ITA	0.597	0.403	67
ALSGAARD Thomas	NOR	0.47	0.53	101
ALYPOV Ivan	RUS	0.539	0.461	38
ANDERSEN Remi	NOR	0.25	0.75	38
ANGERER Tobias	GER	0.45	0.55	139
ANTAL Zsolt	ROU	0.317	0.683	52
ASCHWANDEN Wilhelm	SUI	0.467	0.533	92
AUKLAND Anders	NOR	0.75	0.25	90
AZAMBRE Stephane	FRA	0.353	0.647	34
BABIKOV Ivan	CAN	0.45	0.55	30
BAJCICAK Martin	SVK	0.494	0.506	158
BALLAND Herve	FRA	0.094	0.906	32
BATORY Ivan	SVK	0.522	0.478	186
BAUER John	USA	0.554	0.446	37
BAUER Lukas	CZE	0.535	0.465	158
BEHLE Jochen	GER	0.642	0.358	53
BERGSTROEM Anders	SWE	0.493	0.507	73
BINZER Michael	DAN	0.385	0.615	39
BJERVIG Espen	NOR	0.529	0.471	52
BJONVIKEN Tore	NOR	0.567	0.433	52
BLANCHARD Chris	CAN	0.4	0.6	35
BOLCHAKOV Nikolai	RUS	0.4	0.6	45
BOTVINOV Mikhail	AUT	0.48	0.52	100
BOTVINOV Mikhail	RUS	0.479	0.521	48
BOUCHARD Dany	CAN	0.516	0.484	31
BRINK Joergen	SWE	0.486	0.514	73
BRODAR Nejc	SLO	0.344	0.656	32
BUCHTA Lubos	CZE	0.547	0.453	53
BUNDI Gion Andrea	SUI	0.371	0.629	85
BURGERMEISTER Reto	SUI	0.637	0.363	106
CARLSSON Lars	SWE	0.566	0.434	38
CARRARA Bruno	ITA	0.764	0.236	36
CHEBOTKO Nikolay	KAZ	0.5	0.5	74
CHECCHI Valerio	ITA	0.518	0.482	110
CHEREPANOV Sergey	KAZ	0.524	0.476	41
CHERNOUSOV Ilia	RUS	0.44	0.56	42
CLARA Roland	ITA	0.46	0.54	62
COLOGNA Dario	SUI	0.529	0.471	51
DAEHLIE Bjoern	NOR	0.505	0.495	105
DAHL John Kristian	NOR	0.547	0.453	32
DEMENTIEV Eugeni	RUS	0.465	0.535	72
DENISOV Vitaly	RUS	0.581	0.419	62
DI CENTA Giorgio	ITA	0.488	0.512	204
DIETHELM Hans	SUI	0.472	0.528	36
DOLIDOVICH Sergei	BLR	0.388	0.612	121
EBISAWA Katsuhito	JPN	0.546	0.454	119
EDER Johannes	AUT	0.317	0.683	30
EIDE Anders	NOR	0.463	0.537	54
ELOFSSON Per	SWE	0.471	0.529	69
ESTIL Frode	NOR	0.63	0.37	123
EVANS Anthony	AUS	0.5	0.5	36
FARLEY Donald	CAN	0.557	0.443	61
FAUNER Silvio	ITA	0.472	0.528	126
FILBRICH Jens	GER	0.571	0.429	133
FISCHER Remo	SUI	0.255	0.745	47
FLORA Lars	USA	0.529	0.471	35
FORSBERG Henrik	SWE	0.493	0.507	69
FREDRIKSSON Mathias	SWE	0.517	0.483	204
FREDRIKSSON Thobias	SWE	0.567	0.433	30
FREEMAN Kris	USA	0.538	0.462	79
GAILLARD Jean Marc	FRA	0.489	0.511	90
GANDLER Markus	AUT	0.477	0.523	65
GJERDALEN Tord Asle	NOR	0.439	0.561	57
GODIOZ Gaudenzio	ITA	0.415	0.585	53
GOERANSSON Morgan	SWE	0.474	0.526	58
GOERING Franz	GER	0.567	0.433	52
GOLOVKO Andrei	KAZ	0.608	0.392	51
GREY George	CAN	0.539	0.461	76
GUTIERREZ Juan Jesus	SPA	0.363	0.637	113
HARTONEN Jukka	FIN	0.243	0.757	37
HASLER Markus	LIE	0.457	0.543	164
HEIKKINEN Matti	FIN	0.481	0.519	54
HELLNER Marcus	SWE	0.423	0.577	52
HETLAND Tor Arne	NOR	0.346	0.654	91
HIETAMAEKI Karri	FIN	0.812	0.188	69
HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern	NOR	0.827	0.173	107
HOFFMANN Christian	AUT	0.207	0.793	99
HOFSTAD Tore Ruud	NOR	0.225	0.775	51
HORIGOME Mitsuo	JPN	0.427	0.573	89
IMAI Hiroyuki	JPN	0.561	0.439	139
INGESSON Magnus	SWE	0.491	0.509	56
ISOMETSAE Jari	FIN	0.492	0.508	127
IVANOV Mikhail	RUS	0.625	0.375	80
JAKS Martin	CZE	0.581	0.419	31
JAUHOJAERVI Sami	FIN	0.535	0.465	85
JEVNE Erling	NOR	0.81	0.19	84
JEZIK Stanislav	SVK	0.533	0.467	30
JOHNSON Andrew	USA	0.429	0.571	42
JOHNSRUD SUNDBY Martin	NOR	0.512	0.488	42
JONNIER Emmanuel	FRA	0.319	0.681	102
JONSSON Niklas	SWE	0.547	0.453	107
KANAMARU Tomio	JPN	0.487	0.513	39
KASSIN Elmo	EST	0.319	0.681	47
KATTILAKOSKI Teemu	FIN	0.074	0.926	47
KAVALAR Jose	SLO	0.306	0.694	36
KERSHAW Devon	CAN	0.522	0.478	67
KIRVESNIEMI Harri	FIN	0.795	0.205	73
KOCH Beat	SUI	0.868	0.132	38
KOKK Kaspar	EST	0.5	0.5	40
KORUNKA Vaclav	CZE	0.378	0.622	37
KOSTNER Florian	ITA	0.438	0.562	40
KOUKAL Martin	CZE	0.428	0.572	125
KOZU Masaaki	JPN	0.507	0.493	71
KRECZMER Maciej	POL	0.486	0.514	37
KREZELOK Janusz	POL	0.517	0.483	90
KRIANINE Serguei	RUS	0.413	0.587	52
KRISTIANSEN Egil	NOR	0.182	0.818	44
KUNZ Stephan	LIE	0.5	0.5	93
KUUSISTO Mika	FIN	0.541	0.459	37
LANGLI Terje	NOR	0.649	0.351	37
LARSSON Mats	SWE	0.611	0.389	54
LASUTKIN Alexander	BLR	0.438	0.562	32
LEGKOV Alexander	RUS	0.454	0.546	87
LEGOTINE Vladimir	RUS	0.486	0.514	70
LEYBYUK Roman	UKR	0.542	0.458	108
LIVERS Toni	SUI	0.379	0.621	58
MAE Jaak	EST	0.589	0.411	179
MAECHLER Patrik	SUI	0.311	0.689	53
MAGAL Jiri	CZE	0.493	0.507	138
MAJ Fabio	ITA	0.492	0.508	119
MAJBAECK Christer	SWE	0.49	0.51	51
MALAK Michal	SVK	0.293	0.707	41
MANIFICAT Maurice	FRA	0.438	0.562	32
MARENT Alexander	AUT	0.618	0.382	72
MCKEEVER Robin	CAN	0.536	0.464	42
MICHL Petr	CZE	0.24	0.76	50
MOGREN Torgny	SWE	0.432	0.568	74
MORIGGL Thomas	ITA	0.569	0.431	36
MUEHLEGG Johann	GER	0.397	0.603	68
MUEHLEGG Johann	SPA	0.5	0.5	36
MYLLYLAE Mika	FIN	0.543	0.457	94
NAGAHAMA Kazutoshi	JPN	0.568	0.432	44
NARUSK Priit	EST	0.671	0.329	70
NASH Marcus	USA	0.471	0.529	51
NEUBER Janko	GER	0.302	0.698	48
NEVZOROV Andrei	KAZ	0.477	0.523	43
NORDBAECK Hakan	SWE	0.536	0.464	42
NORTHUG Petter	NOR	0.469	0.531	65
NOUSIAINEN Ville	FIN	0.541	0.459	61
NOUTRIKHINE Andrei	RUS	0.514	0.486	37
NOVIKOV Sergey	RUS	0.524	0.476	82
ODNODVORTSEV Maxim	KAZ	0.491	0.509	57
OESTBERG Fredrik	SWE	0.467	0.533	30
OHTONEN Olli	FIN	0.548	0.452	52
OLLE Raul	EST	0.962	0.038	39
OLSEN Jonas	DAN	0.542	0.458	36
OLSSON Johan	SWE	0.5	0.5	73
PALOLAHTI Ari	FIN	0.5	0.5	36
PANAVAS Ricardas	LTU	0.812	0.188	40
PANKRATOV Nikolai	RUS	0.523	0.477	86
PERL Curdin	SUI	0.42	0.58	44
PERRILLAT Christophe	FRA	0.635	0.365	85
PILLER COTTRER Pietro	ITA	0.428	0.572	194
PLAKSUNOV Viatscheslav	BLR	0.424	0.576	33
POLTARANIN Alexey	KAZ	0.6	0.4	30
POLVARA Gianfranco	ITA	0.419	0.581	31
POZZI Maurizio	ITA	0.358	0.642	60
PROKOUROROV Alexei	RUS	0.487	0.513	118
RAESAENEN Jari	FIN	0.459	0.541	37
REHEMAA Aivar	EST	0.559	0.441	85
REICHELT Tom	GER	0.367	0.633	45
REIN Torald	GER	0.614	0.386	44
REMY Patrick	FRA	0.585	0.415	53
REPO Sami	FIN	0.521	0.479	97
RIABININE Pavel	KAZ	0.49	0.51	51
RIBO Jordi	SPA	0.439	0.561	57
RICKARDSSON Daniel	SWE	0.553	0.447	47
ROELLI Patrick	SUI	0.31	0.69	42
ROENNING Eldar	NOR	0.727	0.273	66
ROTCHEV Vassili	RUS	0.603	0.397	73
ROUSSELET Alexandre	FRA	0.519	0.481	108
RUIZ Diego	SPA	0.321	0.679	56
RUPNIK Vasja	SLO	0.636	0.364	33
SANCHEZ Philippe	FRA	0.413	0.587	46
SANNIKOV Alexander	BLR	0.426	0.574	47
SANTUS Fabio	ITA	0.468	0.532	108
SARACCO Cristian	ITA	0.545	0.455	44
SCHLICKENRIEDER Peter	GER	0.229	0.771	35
SCHLUETTER Andreas	GER	0.579	0.421	127
SCHWIENBACHER Freddy	ITA	0.417	0.583	60
SEIFERT Benjamin	GER	0.706	0.294	34
SEMENIAKO Nikolai	BLR	0.516	0.484	32
SIM Ben	AUS	0.406	0.594	32
SIMILAE Tero	FIN	0.664	0.336	55
SIVERTSEN Sture	NOR	0.643	0.357	70
SKJELDAL Kristen	NOR	0.444	0.556	153
SMIRNOV Vladimir	KAZ	0.468	0.532	79
SOEDERGREN Anders	SWE	0.508	0.492	118
SOERGAARD Krister	NOR	0.623	0.377	65
SOMMERFELDT Rene	GER	0.458	0.542	192
SPERL Milan	CZE	0.5	0.5	71
STADLOBER Alois	AUT	0.532	0.468	77
STEBLER Christian	SUI	0.691	0.309	34
SVARTEDAL Jens Arne	NOR	0.757	0.243	76
SWENSON Carl	USA	0.337	0.663	52
TAIPALE Kuisma	FIN	0.685	0.315	62
TEICHMANN Axel	GER	0.5	0.5	128
TREGOBOV Alexij	BLR	0.595	0.405	37
TSHEPIKOV Sergei	RUS	0.488	0.512	41
ULVANG Vegard	NOR	0.54	0.46	63
URAIN Gerhard	AUT	0.434	0.566	91
VALBUSA Fulvio	ITA	0.469	0.531	163
VANZETTA Giorgio	ITA	0.415	0.585	53
VEERPALU Andrus	EST	0.781	0.219	128
VERDENIUS Jan Jacob	NOR	0.436	0.564	39
VILARRUBLA Vicente	SPA	0.368	0.632	57
VILISSOV Vladimir	RUS	0.541	0.459	86
VITTOZ Vincent	FRA	0.47	0.53	186
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim	RUS	0.475	0.525	60
WADSWORTH Justin	USA	0.508	0.492	64
WALCHER Achim	AUT	0.373	0.627	67
WIGGER Jeremias	SUI	0.5	0.5	56
ZORZI Cristian	ITA	0.32	0.68	111
ZYBAILO Vladislavas	LTU	0.629	0.371	31

Name	Nation	Classic	Skate	Total
ALBRECHT LORETAN Brigitte	SUI	0.458	0.542	118
ANDERSSON Lina	SWE	0.705	0.295	56
ANTONOVA Elena	KAZ	0.644	0.356	59
AOKI Fumiko	JPN	0.519	0.481	78
ARTEMOVA (KHAZOVA) Irina	RUS	0.477	0.523	44
BALATKOVA ERBENOVA Helena	CZE	0.426	0.574	68
BARANOVA-MASOLKINA Natalia	RUS	0.5	0.5	78
BAUER Viola	GER	0.629	0.371	93
BAY Tina	NOR	0.635	0.365	52
BELMONDO Stefania	ITA	0.497	0.503	148
BENEDICIC Maja	SLO	0.422	0.578	32
BERG GJOEMLE Ella	NOR	0.591	0.409	44
BJOERGEN Marit	NOR	0.583	0.417	121
BJOERNAAS Kine Beate	NOR	0.5	0.5	55
BLUM Constanze	GER	0.459	0.541	61
BOEHLER Stefanie	GER	0.505	0.495	107
BONER Seraina	SUI	0.541	0.459	37
BOURGEOIS PIN Elodie	FRA	0.51	0.49	51
BUKVAJOVA Jaroslava	SVK	0.582	0.418	85
BURUKHINA Elena	RUS	0.319	0.681	47
CONFORTOLA WYATT Antonella	ITA	0.508	0.492	186
DAHLBERG Anna	SWE	0.57	0.43	57
DAL SASSO Guidina	ITA	0.469	0.531	49
DANILOVA Olga	RUS	0.5	0.5	104
DI CENTA Manuela	ITA	0.5	0.5	64
EGOROVA Ljubov	RUS	0.475	0.525	79
EK Elin	SWE	0.582	0.418	110
EVALDSSON Annika	SWE	0.508	0.492	61
FABJAN Vesna	SLO	0.5	0.5	31
FESSEL Nicole	GER	0.338	0.662	37
FOLLIS Arianna	ITA	0.375	0.625	120
FORTOVA ZELINGEROVA Iveta	CZE	0.562	0.438	32
FUKUDA Nobuko	JPN	0.58	0.42	50
FURUSAWA Midori	JPN	0.524	0.476	42
GAVRILJUK Nina	RUS	0.467	0.533	137
GAYASOVA Elena	UKR	0.589	0.411	45
GENUIN Magda	ITA	0.418	0.582	67
GOTO Kanoko	JPN	0.5	0.5	30
HAAG (HANSSON) Anna	SWE	0.464	0.536	42
HANDLER Mariana	SWE	0.5	0.5	35
HARTZ DYBENDAHL Trude	NOR	0.558	0.442	77
HAVRANCIKOVA Alzbeta	SVK	0.41	0.59	83
HENKEL Manuela	GER	0.589	0.411	129
HIETAMAEKI-PIENIMAEKI Elina	FIN	0.461	0.539	38
HONEGGER Sylvia	SUI	0.529	0.471	87
HUBER Andrea	SUI	0.705	0.295	56
HUGUE Coraline	FRA	0.288	0.712	33
ILANOVSKA-BALAZOVA Lubomira	SVK	0.611	0.389	36
ISHIDA Masako	JPN	0.643	0.357	70
JACOBSEN Astrid	NOR	0.543	0.457	35
JAKIMCHUK Vita	UKR	0.462	0.538	52
JANECKOVA Ivana	CZE	0.354	0.646	48
JATSKAJA Oxana	KAZ	0.527	0.473	131
JOHANSSON NORGREN Britta	SWE	0.54	0.46	50
JOHAUG Therese	NOR	0.542	0.458	48
KALLA Charlotte	SWE	0.489	0.511	47
KEMPPEL Nina	USA	0.549	0.451	102
KNOTTEN Guri	NOR	0.485	0.515	33
KOCUMOVA Zuzana	CZE	0.5	0.5	35
KOLOMINA Elena	KAZ	0.5	0.5	75
KOROLIK SHABLOUSKAYA Ludmila	BLR	0.453	0.547	43
KOROSTELEVA Natalia	RUS	0.478	0.522	68
KOWALCZYK Justyna	POL	0.535	0.465	99
KUEMMEL Ina	GER	0.516	0.484	31
KUENZEL-NYSTAD Claudia	GER	0.482	0.518	140
KUITUNEN Virpi	FIN	0.57	0.43	121
KURKINA Larisa	RUS	0.516	0.484	61
KUUSISTO Merja	FIN	0.553	0.447	38
KWASNA Dorota	POL	0.563	0.437	63
LACEN Natasa	SLO	0.345	0.655	71
LAZUTINA Larissa	RUS	0.475	0.525	119
LEONARDI CORTESI Natascia	SUI	0.395	0.605	86
LINDBORG Sara	SWE	0.641	0.359	39
LONGA Marianna	ITA	0.606	0.394	99
MAATTA Pirkko	FIN	0.636	0.364	33
MAJDIC Petra	SLO	0.606	0.394	141
MALAHOVA-SHISHKINA Svetlana	KAZ	0.532	0.468	124
MALI Andreja	SLO	0.3	0.7	30
MANNIMA Tatjana	EST	0.595	0.405	42
MEDVEDEVA-ABRUZOVA Evgenia	RUS	0.384	0.616	99
METTLER Barbara	SUI	0.514	0.486	35
MIKKELSPLASS Marit	NOR	0.557	0.443	70
MISCHOL Seraina	SUI	0.61	0.39	68
MOEN Anita	NOR	0.534	0.466	102
MORODER Karin	ITA	0.579	0.421	89
MOSALENKO-ROTCHEVA Olga	RUS	0.439	0.561	74
MUERER STEMLAND Kristin	NOR	0.479	0.521	70
MURANEN (MANNINEN) Pirjo	FIN	0.506	0.494	83
NAGEJKINA Swetlana	RUS	0.506	0.494	77
NATSUMI Madoka	JPN	0.684	0.316	38
NESTERENKO Lada	UKR	0.57	0.43	50
NEUMANNOVA Katerina	CZE	0.474	0.526	137
NILSEN Elin	NOR	0.432	0.568	96
NYBRAATEN Inger	NOR	0.7	0.3	40
OEHMAN Karin	SWE	0.68	0.32	50
OESTLUND Marie Helene	SWE	0.512	0.488	41
OLOFSSON Anna-Carin	SWE	0.422	0.578	32
OLSEN KATNOSA Anita	NOR	0.414	0.586	35
OLSSON Jenny	SWE	0.509	0.491	57
ORDINA Antonina	SWE	0.443	0.557	70
OTAKA Tomomi	JPN	0.677	0.323	31
PALUSELLI Cristina	ITA	0.51	0.49	99
PARUZZI Gabriella	ITA	0.503	0.497	196
PEDERSEN Hilde G.	NOR	0.527	0.473	92
PERRILLAT-COLLOMB (STORTI) Aurelie	FRA	0.533	0.467	60
PESTREKOVA Marina	UKR	0.52	0.48	51
PETTY Kerrin	USA	0.6	0.4	30
PEYROT Lara	ITA	0.513	0.487	39
PHILIPPOT Karine	FRA	0.403	0.597	149
PIOTROWSKA POCEK Bernadeta	POL	0.561	0.439	41
POROMAA FANQVIST Anette	SWE	0.512	0.488	43
PROCHAZKOVA Alena	SVK	0.531	0.469	48
PULKKINEN Kati	FIN	0.406	0.594	32
PYYKKONEN Tuulikki	FIN	0.673	0.327	52
RAJDLOVA Kamila	CZE	0.598	0.402	107
RANDALL Kikkan	USA	0.609	0.391	32
RENNER Sara	CAN	0.514	0.486	111
RESCHWAMM SCHULZE Anke	GER	0.407	0.593	91
ROALDSETH Marit	NOR	0.738	0.262	40
ROCHAT Laurence	SUI	0.577	0.423	84
ROIDER Renate	AUT	0.795	0.205	44
ROLIG LUKKARINEN Marjut	FIN	0.581	0.419	31
ROPONEN (LASSILA) Riitta-Liisa	FIN	0.449	0.551	108
RUCHALA Malgorzata	POL	0.565	0.435	46
RYDQVIST Maria	SWE	0.471	0.529	34
SAARI JAHO Milla	FIN	0.51	0.49	52
SAARINEN Aino-Kaisa	FIN	0.549	0.451	133
SACHENBACHER-STEHLE Evi	GER	0.486	0.514	148
SALONEN Satu	FIN	0.527	0.473	73
SANNIKOVA Alena	BLR	0.546	0.454	54
SANTER Anna	ITA	0.464	0.536	42
SANTER Stephanie	ITA	0.585	0.415	41
SARASOJA Riikka	FIN	0.482	0.518	56
SAVIALOVA Olga	RUS	0.471	0.529	189
SCOTT Beckie	CAN	0.491	0.509	114
SENTELER Andrea	SUI	0.484	0.516	32
SHEVCHENKO Valentina	UKR	0.503	0.497	197
SIDKO Alena	RUS	0.514	0.486	73
SINKEVITCH Yelena	BLR	0.538	0.462	52
SIRVIOE Riikka	FIN	0.553	0.447	66
SKARI MARTINSEN Bente	NOR	0.536	0.464	124
SKLADNEVA LUSINA Irina	RUS	0.394	0.606	33
SKOFTERUD Vibeke W	NOR	0.554	0.446	111
SMIGUN Katrin	EST	0.468	0.532	77
SMIGUN-VAEHI Kristina	EST	0.497	0.503	165
SMUTNA Katerina	AUT	0.678	0.322	45
SONETA Chizuru	JPN	0.438	0.562	40
SORKMO Maj Helen	NOR	0.459	0.541	98
STEIRA Kristin Stoermer	NOR	0.464	0.536	111
TCHEKALEVA Yulia	RUS	0.514	0.486	37
TCHEPALOVA Julija	RUS	0.47	0.53	148
TERELIA Irina	UKR	0.522	0.478	134
TERENTJEVA Irina	LTU	0.171	0.829	35
THERIAULT Milaine	CAN	0.64	0.36	50
THEURL Maria	AUT	0.327	0.673	52
THOMPSON Leslie	USA	0.467	0.533	30
VAELBE Elena	RUS	0.473	0.527	74
VAELIMAA (ANTILLA) Kirsi	FIN	0.684	0.316	57
VAHTRA Cristel	EST	0.569	0.431	51
VALBUSA Sabina	ITA	0.448	0.552	221
VARIS Kaisa	FIN	0.482	0.518	56
VASILJONOK Olga	BLR	0.361	0.639	36
VAXELAIRE-PIERREL Annick	FRA	0.462	0.538	79
VENAELAEINEN-SUNDQVIST Kati	FIN	0.557	0.443	97
VILJANMAA Annmari	FIN	0.605	0.395	57
VILLENEUVE Sophie	FRA	0.432	0.568	88
WAGNER Wendy Kay	USA	0.744	0.256	39
WILLE Sigrid	GER	0.512	0.488	41
YOKOYAMA Kumiko	JPN	0.467	0.533	45
YOKOYAMA Sumiko	JPN	0.519	0.481	160
ZELLER Katrin	GER	0.535	0.465	71

If you look at the men’s classic specialists, there are the familiar Norwegians we’d expect to see: Hjelmeset, Jevne and Svartedal.  Andrus Veepalu and Hjelmeset take the cake for classic specialists with significantly more races than the others (not to mention the fact that they were actually quite fast).

But Estonian Raul Olle really, really likes classic skiing.

For skating specialists, we have two standouts in Teemu Kattilakoski and Herve Balland.  Christian Hoffman and Tore Rud Hofstad are probably the fastest skating specialists here.

With the women, Lina Andersson and Inger Nybraaten stand out as particularly fast classic specialists.  Nybraaten is a great example of someone who I only have races at the tail end of their career, so there is some question as to whether the 40 races I do have is representative of the rest of her career.  And she probably raced for a time when skating perhaps wasn’t really an option.

For some reason I had no idea Wendy Wagner did so many more classic races, but apparently so.

Turning to skating, Lithuanian skier Irina Terentjeva really, really prefers skating it would appear.  Some of the Russians I’m not so familiar with, but I recognize Arianna Follis and Karine Phillipot, who both seem to prefer skating with around a 60/40 split for each of them.

Related posts:

1. <Career Retrospective: Rene Sommerfeldt
2. <Career Retrospective: Sabina Valbusa
3. <Bjoern Daehlie vs Thomas Alsgaard