Norwegian Junior Survey
The following feature, written by Ellen Aabech, originally appeared in Norwegian SkiSport magazine. This summary was translated and prepared by Erik Stange exclusively for xcskiworld.com.
Background: Norway has a national championship event for 14 and 15 year olds called the Hovedlandsrennet. This event in addition to a Junior National championship event. Instead of strict qualification systems, the Hovedlandsrennet is essentially open to all who want to participate. The researchers for this survey asked participants in the championships about their participation in cross country skiing.
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Survey Topic: "What do young skiers think about development and how many are quitting the sport?"
During the Hovedlandsrennet in 1999 the organizing club, KjelsŒs IL, conducted a survey to see what the participants thought about how many quit, nutrition, training and their club environment. In all 249 skiers answered the questions, most of them finished in the top half of the field in the Hovedlandsrennet. 75.1% of the respondents were boys, 24.9% were girls. The study was conducted with help of the Norwegian Ski Association, since the results might help the Association come up with strategy for recruiting and development.
Why Cross-country Skiing?
The study shows that the most important reason that children begin skiing is that either parents (1 in 6) or friends (1 in 3) took them along to workouts. One in five began skiing because they wanted to focus on the sport. The joy of being out on skis was also essential for those who chose cross-country skiing.
Over half of the respondents participated in their first race before they turned nine, and 9 out of 10 had raced before they turned 10. Cross-country skiing is therefore a sport they begin with early. Ninety per cent of the skiers take part in more than 10 races each year, and they do an average of four races outside of their home region or state (Editor: North American readers should note the geographic difference in what this means in Norway.) There were few who only competed a little, the most race at least one time a week throughout the winter.
Almost 60% keep a training log, something that shows they have focus for their sport, and they evaluate and reflect upon their training. Since those who participated in the study belong to the group that had the best results this isn't really surprising. Young cross-country skiers are well-rounded; over 80% of this age group participate in other sports in addition to skiing. The total training volume was an average of 248 hours for the season of 1998/99, which would be an average of 5.5 hours each year throughout the whole year or 45 minutes a day. The skiers had an average of 2.7 workouts they did on their own in the fall, which is the period which is considered the most important training period for skiers. (Most ski clubs do from two to three workouts together during the fall).
Distance training made up the biggest section of training, something which is natural since endurance is the most important element for success in skiing. In addition, the skiers did one workout of intervals and two strength workouts each week.
Training Groups
Most skiers trained together with others in a club, or almost 55%. But likely because there have been fewer athletes within the sport, 26.6% of the athletes must train alone - especially those who come from small places. 19% train together with skiers from other clubs. This is a solution in certain places where many small clubs are located in a relatively small area.
Snow and trails
Very few skiers live near a ski area or have direct access to good snow conditions right near where they live. Most on-snow training happens on groomed trails with lighted trails and a club's warming hut. In addition, we have had many poor winters with little snow where almost everyone has had to travel to get on snow. Seven out of ten say that they have to travel by car or train to get on snow. The average round-trip took 46 minutes to get to the snow, and it was done an average of four times a week.
Continue with Skiing
The main reason to continue skiing was to improve (28.5%), while 18.6% state the belief that they can be successful was the most important. But about 15% of the skiers stated that simply pushing themselves and staying in good shape was the most important, and that they just liked training. Most skiers had a goal to be better than they were before (68%). Realistic goals lead to more enjoyment since they are achievable. Unrealistic goals are often disappointments, and make skiers think that they are unsuccessful. The study showed that most skiers had realistic goals for themselves. To be successful as a cross-country ski racer, 40% of the skiers said they are willing to prioritize skiing ahead of their education, while more than a half were willing to move to be better skiers.
Most (90%) were pleased with how their clubs supported their participation in the sport. It is important that coaches help with providing the skiers with realistic goals with respect to the skiers individual capacities. The skiers believe that most children quit the sport because it took too much time or that they had not met the goals they set for themselves. The gap between their own expectations and their results was too big. Many skiers begin to leave the sport once they are 12-13 years old.
Attitudes towards food
95.9% of the athletes have a positive attitude towards food, and 65.4% feel they eat optimally to perform their best. These numbers indicate that nutrition is not really a central theme of discussion for this group. But the study shows that three out of ten do not feel like they are eating right. These should be seen as a warning sign for the media and other factions that try to scare youngsters with what is healthy and right for nutrition. It is likely that these skiers eat better and healthier than other children their age. People should stop focusing on nutrition of younger skiers and rather wait until the athletes are older to make this an important issue.
Conclusions
- Parents and friends are the most important reasons that kids begin cross-country skiing.
- A positive and fun club environment is an important element for them to continue skiing.
- Most compete in their first race before they turn ten. People begin to fall away from the sport when they turn 12-13 years old. Development can be extended to athletes older then 10.
- Because of unstable snow conditions, cross country ski training and racing requires a lot of travel time. The sport is time-consuming with respect to training and competition in general.
- Training must fit the athlete such that the level of ambition matches the athlete's expectations.
- Athletes from small clubs must have the chance to train with larger clubs. This will provide a better social environment across all age groups and a better opportunity for training for those who come from small clubs.
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