FIS Cross-Country checks in with Norwegian national Team Coach Age Skinstad.
FIS Cross-Country: How are you satisfied with training so far? Are you keeping your schedule?
Åge Skinstad: We manage to keep the schedule we planned in spring. It is early to judge the whole training period but I am happy with the first part. We have done a good job so far.
FIS Cross-Country: How is the situation in the team? Are all in the team healthy?
ÅS: I am happy that until today we have not had any big injuries in the team. Of course Kristin (Steira) has elaborated with injured heel. She has to carry out alternative training workouts. It will take approx. one month until she has been fully recovered.
FIS Cross-Country: How often do you meet as a whole training group?
ÅS: We had training couple of common team training camps. One took play in Oslo in May and another one in Sognefjellet in June. In July we will meet again in Sandnes.
FIS Cross-Country: What about sprinters and distance skiers? Does their training differ?
ÅS: After meeting in Sandnes the sprinters will not focus on high altitude training. Ladies’s and men’s distance team as well as sprint teams will have common training camps. All of us will meet again in Norway in September. Following month we plan to go for 3-4 days together to Val Senales. So you can see we are together quite often.
FIS Cross-Country: Where did you train in July? Where do you plan to go for a training camp?
ÅS: The month of July was without regular training camp. The squad will gather at a rollerksi race from 22-24 July. There will be live TV coverage. We are looking forward going there.
FIS Cross-Country: Do you carry out any special workouts for Oslo?
ÅS: Naturally World Championships is the biggest objective for us next season. Athletes are motivated to succeed in Oslo. Some racers do running on the World Championships trails and we will have a training camp in Oslo in late September.
FIS Cross-Country: Are there any coming special events in Norway?
ÅS: There will be in October an “open” training camp for juniors 18-20 years. It will take place in Sjusjøen. There were 115 available and they were occupied within 24 hours. This shows a huge interest in our sport and I am really excited about that.