Summer Training - Canada's Len Valjas and Devon Kershaw © Noel Rogers

July 03, 2015 – Summer 2015 has just started but Cross-Country athletes have no time for vacation. The summer training season is in full swing. It is time for roller skiing, cycling, running and some fitness training. Here is an overview of what various teams have been up to.

Summer Training - Team Germany on the Dachstein Glacier © courtesy of FIS

Germany
The German Cross-Country team went through big changes in the spring. The new team started the training season at the end of May in Leipzig and Oberhof. Then the squad spent 2 weeks in Ramsau in June. In July the joint training camp takes place in Oberstdorf and in August in Lillehammer.

Summer Training - Slovenia's Vesna Fabjan © courtesy of FIS

Slovenia
Team Slovenia has already had three training camps until now. The training season got underway at the end of May in Istria with a 7-day long camp. In the beginning of June the team trained in Rogla and from 14th – 23rd June in Ramsau. The team is scheduled to train 10 days in Planica in the middle of July and in August they will be in Norway.

Summer Training - Czech Republic National Team in Livigno © courtesy of FIS

Czech Republic
Also the Czech Cross-Country team has changed since the last winter. Both men’s and ladies’ teams have new coaches. Men’s national team has been training in Bozi Dar and Livigno in 14-days blocks. Ladies’ team started preparation for the next winter with a biking training camp and at the end of August they will join the men’s team in Livigno.

Summer Training - Team Canada skiers training on the trails of Sunshine Village in Banff © Banff Sunshine Village

Canada
Team Canada has had one on-snow camp back in May at Sunshine Mountain Village in Banff. Great conditions allowed the athletes to start off the season really well with a lot of hours on snow. Sunshine is only 30 min from Canmore, so the athletes could be mostly “home” for the start of the season and not traveling. Last Saturday the second camp started for 14 days in Canmore. the complete team is set for a volume camp with some altitude exposure, and testing for some.

Summer Training - Andy Newell hits the gym © USSA Nordic

USA
The USA Team was in Park City, Utah for camp May 17-29. This camp focused mainly on testing, physical assessment, and conducting some of the first quality intensity sessions of the year. The team conducted baseline tests on the treadmill, strength testing, functional movement screenings, etc. The athletes started new strength programs and they ran individual and team meetings.

The Alaskans were training on Eagle Glacier June 8-14 and conditions were good with lots of new snow. The next camp will be at the Snow Farm in New Zealand July 9-24.

Summer Training - Dario Cologna trains with the Swiss squad © Swiss Ski

Switzerland
It has become a tradition that the national team starts the new season in Sardinia. This spring was no exception. Besides from cycling, also roller skiing and running was on the training programme. In early June the team gathered again for a training camp, this time in Stelvio, Italy. A camp in Ruhpolding is schedule at the end of June.

Summer Training - Team Norway Women's Team © courtesy of FIS

Norway
The Norwegian team started preparation for the 2015/16 season traditionally in Oslo, where the first training camp too place in May. Perfect snow conditions are the be found in Sognefjellet where both the men’s and ladies’ team spent their training camps in June. The ladies’ team was training last week in Hemsedal. In early August both teams meet in Lillehamer and then travel to Seiser Alm and Livigno at the end of the month.

Summer Training - A Swedish skier doing some testing. © courtesy of FIS

Sweden
After the successful season the Swedish Cross-Country team met for the first time in Fuerteventura on Canary Islands from 12th – 19th May. The basic training after a few months off contained biking, roller skiing and running. From 22nd – 27th June the gathered for another camp, this time on the home soil in Torsby and Idre mountains. Athletes combined skiing in a tunnel with rollersking.