September 18, 2014 (Val di Fiemme) – The second edition of the FIS Development Programme Nordic Summer Training Camp in Val di Fiemme (ITA) recently concluded with athletes from 16 different nations taking part in the two-week camp from 1st-13th September 2014.

Happy participants of the Nordic Training Camp ©FIS

The project was coordinated by Sandro Pertile and focused on the development of Nordic disciplines in nations that lack either tradition, experience and/or facilities. The nations taking part this year included: Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine.

The participants were equally divided between Cross-Country and Ski Jumping with a number of Nordic Combined athletes with the interest in the camp enjoying an impressive increase from 50 athletes in the first edition last year to 75 athletes this year. In addition, fifteen persons managed and coordinated the activities, from expert technicians to staff members that coordinated the practical activities and seminars.

One of the top moments for the athletes was meeting Olympic Champion Gabriella Paruzzi, who won a gold medal in Salt Lake City (USA) in 2002 and claimed the overall FIS World Cup in 2003/2004. Another Olympic Champion, Christian Zorzi, trained with the young athletes and signed posters and photos.

The specialist and Nordic Combined ski jumpers had the chance to jump with Polish National Team athletes, including Val di Fiemme 2013 World Champion and Sochi 2014 double Olympic Champion, Kamil Stoch.

To help provide a meaningful experience for the participating coaches as well, 11 seminars were organised with topics ranging from ski preparation to athletic training and season planning.

Now that the summer camp is over, the Val di Fiemme staff will begin work on the winter camp project, which will likely be held in December for all three Nordic disciplines Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined.