A question that came up at the USSA Junior Coaches conference/thingie:
How do other countries structure age vs. distance races at National Junior Championships?
i.e. in Norway, what distances are their equivalent to J2's racing at their NJC's? J1's? Are the mass start of interval start races? Boy's vs. Girls?
I've already tried looking at the FIS database, not much help.
Please let me know if any answer you have is speculation or fact.
Thanks,
Joe
I don`T know to much about this and im not sure how old J2s and J1s are but at Hovedlandsrennet the unofficial national championship for 15 and 16 year olds the the girls and the 15 year old boys race 5km and the 16 year old boys 7.5 km
At junior nationals 17 to 20 year olds
The girls all age groups have one 5 km race + one longer race
17 year old 7,5 km
18 year old 10 km
19 and 20 year old 15 km
The boys all age groups have one 10 km race + one longer race
17 year olds 10 km
18 year olds 15 km
19/20 year old 20 km
Junior nationals home page
http://www.nmjr2010.no/
Hovedlandsrennet home page
http://www.hlr2011.no/
There is also a relay event and a cross coutry ski cross event were they race in an obstacle course.
And a sprint event :)
In Sweden:
http://www.usmskidor2011.se/ USM, For 15-16 year olds
http://www.bodensskidallians.com/jsm.htm JSM for 17-20.
USM (15-16)
Ski-cross
Girls15yr 5km interval
Boys15yr 5km interval
Girls16yr 7,5km interval
Boys16yr 7,5km interval
Sprints
Relays separate for Club teams and non-club teams. 3,3+2,5+3,3
JSM
Womens: 17-18 5km interval
19-20 5km interval
Mens: 17-18 10km interval
19-20 10km interval
Sprint
Skiathlon/Pursuit-thingy mass start
Women go 10km
Men go 20km
Relays
Women 3x 3,3 km
Men 17-20 3 x 5 km
It's not always a question of what other countries do but what we need to do in the US to develop faster skiers. Some of us, for a long time, have been in favor of shorter races just to get skiers going faster. The colleges, for instance, have a couple of 20km races toward the end of their season. These may be fine for the schools that recruit 25-30 year-olds, but it does no good for the younger, US skiers, some of whom may be only 18-19 years old.
In general shorter is probably better.
You must log in to post.
