A cohort of U16-U20 Nordic Combined athletes have just returned from a two-week training camp in Central Europe. Athletes from RMD, IMD, Central, and East divisions were invited on this trip, with the goals in mind of exposing them to new cultures and experiences, getting quality training at world class venues, and to train alongside other international athletes.
“To say the camp was a success would be an understatement,” says U.S. Nordic Combined Domestic coach Michael Ward. “It was the first time traveling and training internationally for many of these athletes, and they handled it with complete professionalism. Huge improvements were made from each athlete both on and off the hill.”
This was the first international training camp for the U16-U20 age group that USA Nordic has planned in recent years. “Due to the fact that ski jumping and Nordic Combined clubs and venues are so spread out over the country, athletes at this age don’t get to train with their cohorts as often as they would like. Camps like this are vital and allow the athletes to train and push each other, which in turn raises their ability level. It also allows the athletes to train alongside the best ski jumpers and Nordic Combined athletes in the world.”
The camp began with the team starting in Planica, Slovenia. From there, they were able to do day trips to the Kranj ski jump and visit Slatnar, a jumping ski and binding manufacturer. At Slatnar, the athletes were able to tour the factory as well as order any equipment needed for the upcoming season. After Slovenia, they headed to Stams, Austria where they were able to train alongside the Italian Nordic Combined team for a few days. They also took a day trip to Innsbruck, where they trained on the historic Bergisel ski jump. Athletes were also given the opportunity to walk around Innsbruck and learn about the city’s history. Of course, after a solid week of training, the athletes were able to have a fun afternoon at Austria’s Area 47 water park. Following Stams, the team traveled to Oberstdorf, Germany for their last leg of the camp. Here they were able to have high quality training at one of the best venues in Europe. While ski jumping was the primary focus of this camp, the team took full advantage of the roller ski track as well as hiked up the Nebelhorn.
“With the support of NNF, I and many other athletes were given the opportunity to train in Europe for about two weeks at some of the best training facilities in the world. Throughout the camp my jumping improved at a rate I could never imagine, and I wasn’t the only one. New personal records were being set day after day and we were all having so much fun watching each other “send it”. I was pushed to become a better athlete not only on the hill but off the hill too, as my teammates would constantly invite me to go on a run or stretch together. This not only helped with recovery but set a routine that made the training camp a whole lot more efficient. The best part of the whole camp was being able to train with athletes from all over the world and connect with them at the top of the ski jump. Trips like these are so crucial for our development because here in America, training facilities are scarce, so being able to go to Europe where they are everywhere, gives us so many more opportunities to grow as athletes. Thank you so much for your support and we are all looking forward to being able to work with NNF in the upcoming years!” – Ella Wilson
“This was my first time in Europe, my second time out of the country, and it couldn’t have been a better experience. The European Alps almost felt like another planet, the mountains were so steep, rocky, and otherworldly. The training was also top tier. I come from a ski club in the Chicago suburbs, and I am the only athlete that cross country skis there. I have a group of 10 that I can ski jump with weekly, but nobody to really pushes me skiing, and having this group to push me to my maximum is something that I am grateful for. Additionally, the coaching that I have received on this training camp has been amazing. Having coaches of the caliber that they are has made me so much better. I am jumping the best I have ever jumped, and my skiing fitness is also the highest it has ever been. It has also been a great reunion with my Nordic combined friends. Typically, we only see each other at national competitions in the winter but seeing them over the summer has been a very welcome change from the norms. I am very grateful to the coaches and to NNF for this opportunity.” – Anders Geise
Ward hopes to continue to offer Nordic Combined development camp opportunities like this in the future. Thank you to NNF for its support on this camp and we hope to continue working with NNF in the future. Opportunities like this are not possible without the support of the National Nordic Foundation and the Nordic Combined community.
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