Top-ranking competitive cross-country skiing events: model terrain specifications

PhD, Professor A.G. Batalov1
M.I. Sidorova1
PhD, Associate Professor M.E. Burdina1
1Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism (SCOLIPE), Moscow

Abstract
Objective of the study was to analyze model characteristics of terrains in the top-ranking international competitive cross-country skiing events.
Methods and structure of the study. To overview the modern cross-country skiing track design trends and logics in the top-ranking events, we analyzed the 10/15km cross-country skiing events at the 2019/ 20 World Championships and 2018 Olympic Games for the key terrain characteristics including the height difference, maximal climbs, total climbs, track difficulty (d), etc.
Results and conclusion. Based on the analytical data, we found correlations between the key terrain specifications and altitude zones of the competitive events. The study data may be recommended for application in the cross-country skiing elite training systems. It should be emphasized that the progress tests should factor in the total climbs as a key external workload parameter for every training session or individual training cycles different in times and intensities – to effectively manage the training and competitive performance versus the actual difficulty levels of the upcoming competitive events.

Keywords: model characteristics, competitive tracks, cross-country skiing, competitive track, terrain specifications, rules of competitions.

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