Skiing Overseas: Matching the Competition – Why Do They Ski So Fast?

One Master Skier's Account

Recently, I made the journey to Estonia and Finland to train and compete in the World Masters Championships (WMC), with the added bonus of participating in the Finlandia Hiihto towards the end. It had been several years since I had done a 30+ km race and 38 years since competing in a 60+ km race.

I left Australia in mid-January, having done solid training under the direction of our coach, Alexei Sotskov, and benefited from several technical sessions on roller skis with Valdis Bodnieks. I felt good, strong, and was skiing well. Alexei’s strength circuit training was dynamite for core strength.

I spent half of my six weeks overseas in Estonia, stationed in Otepää with my good friend Adrian Blake. Otepää has fantastic competition trails, though not extensive. The weather played a big part in determining whether trails further afield could be used. I planned to participate in two tour races in Estonia, but one was postponed due to warming weather. Despite this, I got in some great training on a demanding 4-5 km loop. It was a tough circuit, especially when doing race-pace workouts alone, but the fantastic floodlit track provided great evening skiing memories, flying down hills where falling was not an option.

Next, we journeyed north to mid-Finland to compete in the World Masters Championships in Vuokatti. The WMC is open to everyone, whether you are racing or not, and we brought our own cheer squad. There was great camaraderie among the Aussie team, and one of our aims was to beat the British team. The late Freidl Bartsch was responsible for instigating the Ashes trophy with the British team, and this time around, the British won overall.

In Vuokatti, the trails and scenery were great, but the Arctic-type weather, with temperatures varying between -20 to -30°C, made it difficult. Two of the main races had to be cancelled, leaving only the relays, a shortened 5 km classic and skate race, plus the 30 km classical and skate races. I skied the 5 km and 30 km skate, but with the two earlier races being cancelled, I wasn't race-ready. I found it difficult to pace myself, so in the last lap of the 30 km race, out of three, I was not too tired. I had a lovely ski, but overall, for a 30 km race, I didn’t ski hard enough and placed well back in the field.

After the race, I pondered what it would take to beat more of the field and at least be in the top half. To ski faster, there is no easy solution as all the bits and pieces must come together. Let’s list them:

Training: Follow a program that builds your strength and endurance to a high level. Our coach Alexei knows exactly what you need to do, but the hard part is doing it. The good thing is that it’s not all about training hard; rest and easy workouts are also crucial. There is no easy path here. To be competitive, your strength and endurance progression will take several ski seasons, but it helps if you are heading in the right direction from the beginning.
Technique: Having great skiing technique means being efficient, getting maximum glide with every stride. Alexei, Valdis, and other experienced instructors are up-to-date with the latest skiing techniques and can communicate what the top skiers overseas are doing. A lot has changed in the last 10 years.
Equipment: Have a fast pair of skis and a base structure that suits the conditions. Ensure your skis are correctly waxed using an appropriate wax.
Race Fitness: This is the crux of the matter. You need to get race fit. You might look like a million dollars skiing gracefully, but if you cannot translate this into speed, you will struggle. In the Northern winter, our competitors may have done 10-20 races starting in the previous November and hundreds throughout their skiing lives. The fast skiers know their limits and can maintain a fast tempo without blowing up over long distances. They achieve this by slowly gaining experience and toughness through competition.

During the last 10 days of my stay, I did some great skiing in Lahti in preparation for the 62 km Finlandia Hiihto. I managed sustained distance skiing and, with the right amount of rest before the event, had a good race, skiing the last 15 km strongly. This event was the highlight of the trip. You gotta love Finland.

The moral of the story is, if you want to ski faster, seek the right advice regarding training and technique, do what is required, and compete in as many races as you can. Every race is a learning experience that helps you adjust to the challenge of skiing faster bit by bit. Racing is not just about skiing hard; you can have various goals, such as practicing new techniques, trying to negatively split your race, or testing new equipment.

Cross-country skiers love the feeling of being fit and strong and meeting the challenges of getting all those elements working together.

Wayne P