Sunday, October 30, 2011 // Rollerski
Two weeks in Val Senales didn’t fly away this time. It’s hard to be on training camp alone. I was hanging out with the cross country team as much as I could, but paddling alone every afternoon in 0 degrees is mentally tough. The athletes and trainers on the cross country and biathlon team are super nice and made it easy for me to blend inn. Highlights from the camp were interval skating session with Tarje Bø (Biathlon) and uphill rollerski session with the mens cross country team. I’m the one in black racing suite on the picture.
Posted on 10/30 at 02:55 PM (UTC/GMT +1)
Sunday, October 23, 2011 // Val Senales
My first training camp for season 2012 is going well. This camp is different than everything I have done before. Cross country skiing every morning at the glacier at 3100m and then paddling in the afternoon at 1700m. It’s cold, that’s for sure, but if I want to paddle faster than I have ever done before I also have to take my training to a new level. It’s inspiring to ski with the best guys in the world. The national cross country teams from NOR, SWE, FIN, SUI, RUS, GER and ITA are all here, so speed is not a problem. I’m training with the Norwegian cross country and biathlon team at the glacier and everybody has been very kind and helpful. It’s inspiring to train and learn from the best winter athletes like, Marit Bjørgen, Ole Einar Bjørndalen and Petter Northug. My friend and competitor, Max Benassi from Italy, has lent me his Nelo K1. This training camp would have been very difficult without Max’s help. A big THANKS to Max!
Posted on 10/23 at 08:24 AM (UTC/GMT +1)
Sunday, October 09, 2011 // World Championships 2011
Back on the podium again! It’s been a great World Championships for me. My level is better than I hoped for when I started training again in November 2010. I managed to do everything right all year and did my best races and got my best result here in Szeged. The atmosphere is special when it’s the Olympic qualification and it’s hard to get trough. I am very happy for qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics and feel sorry for all the crews that didn’t make it. Men’s K4 1000m gave us some surprises as the Olympic Champions Belarus, World Champions France and European Champions Portugal did not make the qualification. In the Men’s K2 1000m it was a happy surprise that Henrik Nilsson and Marcus Oscarsson from Sweden won the silver. Henrik Nilsson hasn’t competed since 2004! It’s nice to see that I am not the only “old” guy still around! The organizers of Szeged 2011 did a great job, from opening ceremony to afterparty. As always after the Olympic qualification it will be interesting to see how ICF read their Olympic qualification rules and where the available spots ends up!
Posted on 10/09 at 10:34 AM (UTC/GMT +1)
