Training

The following text is a summary of a lecture by Vidar Jakobsen at a Norwegian Ski Association Coaches’ Seminar in June 2004. Differences between free technique skiing (skating) and running, measured on treadmills: Junior skiers 2002: Lactate values are higher when skating than running The oxygen uptake for skating versus running is very variable Senior National Team: Oxygen uptake is higher for running than for skating (tested in May, August and October), in October the...

While many talks about recovering after a hard race season, this is not the case for Frode Estil, 2002 Olympic Champion in the pursuit race. For Frode, the end of the race season blends into next year’s training season – he is not in need of a rest period.

The Norwegian women’s team started their dryland camp at Kvitfjell, Norway last Monday. Lots of hard training is on the agenda before they travel to altitude for easier training and higher volume. – This is a capacity camp with many tough workouts, says coach Svein Tore Samdal. The first interval session was hill-bounding (“moose-huffs”) with poles up the very steep alpine area used for the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic downhill – We are doing an intensity...

Lars Berger has the last few years become a member of the elite group in the Biathlon World Cup. Her is also considered one of Norway best skaters. His training philosophy is built on lots of easy training and lots of intervals just below anaerobic threshold. Lars Berger – We have a period of some hard training before we go up to altitude. When we’re at altitude we seldom go hard, at least not above...

One segment of the racing crowd that has always impressed and intrigued me are the old dogs. You probably know the type. They are not members of the US or Canadian Ski teams, though they might have been at some time. They are not usually the people who win the races, but once in a while they are close. They are not the people that should beat you if you think you are training ‘full-time’,...

Orienteering can be compared with Cross-Country skiing both in competition time and terrain. With the exception of the new sprint and park-orienteering formats with 15-min competition times, most of the competitions last from 30 minutes to 1:30 hours. The sport is also held in typical ski terrain, with uphills, downhills and flat sections. The orienteering competition season is a bit longer than for Cross-Country skiers, starting in March/April and ending in October. The base-training season...

World Cup and FIS Marathon Cup skiers are athletes with strong individual opinions on correct ski technique. Skiing efficiently is critical for their results. They have all watched video, received feedback from coaches and developed their own style from years of racing. Marathon Cup skier Fredrik Aukland (26) of Norway is not (yet) among the top skiers but is never-the-less considered an expert and authority on the double-poling technique. Good double-poling is of course critical...

Atle KvÃ¥lsvoll, Thor Hushovd’s coach as well as the Norwegian Olympic Committee’s endurance sport specialist gives Langrenn.com/Fasterskier.com some of Hushovd’s training secrets. Uses competitions as training When the racing season starts, a few competitions are used as training. – The first stage race of the year was consciously used as the last part of the preparation phase. Three training periods of two weeks each are included during the racing season. During these weeks he trains...

Swedish SkidSport.com reports that national team captain Per-Erik “Peken” Ronnestrand wants stronger, tougher and faster women this winter. They are going to accomplish that in part with special training in the hills around Sundsvall this week. – We are doing many interval sessions this week and the skiers will be able to challenge each other in certain workouts, says “Peken”. Sweden’s national teams started their camps on Monday this week at two different locations in...

Bente Skari (32) wants to help the Norwegian women’s team and will be a part of the coaching staff at their August camp at Kvitfjell, Norway. Skari will be focusing on helping with classic technique and championship preparations. The Women’s team coach Svein Tore Samdal had expressed interest in getting help from Bente even before she was back from her “trip around the World”. Skari considered the offer when she came back and said yes...

Norwegian junior national team coach Jon Arne Schjetne is feeling fine about coaching skiers involved in multiple sports at a high level. He currently has two skiers on the team that are also on other sports junior national teams. Marte Elden ( www.fasterskier.com/news.php?id=1273 ) is involved with the orienteering team. Competing in these summer sports makes it impossible for the two athletes to participate at all the cross county skiing camps, but the national team...

The July issue of Fasterskier.com’s Club subscription service was sent to subscribers on July 20. The Club provides detailed, in-depth coverage of modern and interesting issues in the sport of Cross-Country.  Most of the Club’s articles will cover issues related to training and racing, and will also include material for all ages and abilities, from World Cup skiers’ training to important elements of youth and age group training and skiing. This month we include three...