Parting

Revolution in skiing: skiathlon and classic sprint are cancelled. Styles and types in cross-country skiing

The International Ski Federation (FIS) has come up with revolutionary ideas that could completely change the landscape of cross-country skiing. Already in the post-Olympic season, skiathlons and sprints in the classic style may disappear from the calendar.

Cross-country skiing has changed quite a lot in recent decades. There were sprint races and distances from the general start, for several years in a row the multi-day Tour de Ski has been held. All this changed the specifics of the competition so much that our legendary skier Tamara Tikhonova even laughed: “Thank God, new races appeared after I finished my career. Otherwise I wouldn’t have won anything.” Nevertheless, in terms of popularity, skis continue to lose out to biathlon and even to their neighbors in their own international federation - alpine skiing and snowboarding. This made the FIS officials think about the next reforms. This time more global than ever.

WHY THE WORLD CUPS WERE WITHOUT A RELAY

At the recent FIS Executive Committee in Zurich, the leaders of the cross-country skiing committee, the legendary Norwegian skier, made their proposals Vegard Ulvang And Pierre Minerey. Here are the ideas they came up with:

Cancellation of skiathlons (races with dressing up skis in classic and skating styles) for 15 and 30 km.
- Introduction of 15 and 30 km pursuit races following the results of 10 and 15 km time trials.
- Cancellation of classic sprints, all sprints are free style with elements of ski-cross, such as jumps.
- Team sprint with a mixed composition of participants: one man and one woman.
- Reducing the distance in the men's relay from 10 to 7.5 km.

The list turned out to be sensational and rather non-obvious. After all, the same skiathlons are considered a very spectacular discipline and appeared in the competition program relatively recently.

Skiathlon is difficult to include in the World Cup, commented Ulvang. - Since this is a general start, wide tracks are needed, as well as two different laps for the classic and skating parts of the race. Due to the two different circles, it is also difficult to show it on television. And when the discipline is difficult to carry out within the framework of the World Cup, the question arises whether we should carry it out at the main starts of the season.

True, here Ulvang cunning. After all, the relay - the most spectacular and basic format for almost any cyclic sport - will not be held even once within the framework of the current season of the World Cup. That does not prevent it from being an obligatory part of the program of the Olympics and World Championships. Why it was impossible to include at least a couple of relay races in the 2017-2018 World Cup program is not clear. After all, now, choosing the Olympic composition, the teams will be forced to act blindly. No one will have a single opportunity for an experiment on the eve of Pyeongchang.

Reducing the distance in the men's relay, on the one hand, will make it possible for sprinters to participate and increase competition in general. But on the other hand, this will require additional routes and efforts from the organizers. That in the light of the abolition of skiathlons just for this reason, it also looks not entirely logical.

REFORMS ARE UNWANTED FOR RUSSIA

If the skiathlon for skiing is a relatively new discipline and its cancellation still does not pull on a revolution, the idea of eliminating the sprint with the classic style is really extremely bold. Indeed, until now, sprints were held only in both styles and alternated over the years - if in Sochi-2014 the personal sprint ran "skating", then in Pyeongchang-2018 they will run "classic". With the team sprint, the opposite is true - at the 2018 Games it will be held in a free style.

Following the example of other sports, it would be logical for skiing to achieve simultaneous sprints for both styles in all major competitions. After all, for example, in swimming there is no such thing that the same distance at one Olympics is swum by crawl, and at the next, for example, by breaststroke. Or in athletics, they simply jump in length or triple jump every other time.

Classical and freestyle skiing are now so far apart that "narrow specialists" get their Olympic chance only once every eight years. That cannot contribute to popularity and only confuses fans who do not have time to remember the constantly changing winners.

But the international federation cannot or does not want to “break through” the increase in the Olympic program. Therefore, there was a proposal to simply cancel the classic sprint as less spectacular than the skating one. In that, in turn, it is proposed to introduce elements from the ski-cross discipline - that is, small slides and springboards.

How this will look in practice is not entirely clear. But if even a small part of these reforms is implemented, it will completely change the balance of power. And it is unlikely that Russian skiers, who are traditionally good in the "classics" and not too strong in extreme mountain descents, will benefit from this.

So far, the FIS technical committee has postponed consideration of the issue until the end of the Olympic season. That is, in the coming winter, everything will definitely remain as it is, but then any options are possible. And if Russia wants to take part in the discussion of the future of cross-country skiing, it needs to be done now. Otherwise, later the discussion that is being conducted in Western countries may lead the matter in a direction that is completely undesirable for us.

"SKIERS SHOULD CREATE A SEPARATE FEDERATION"

Senior coach of the Russian sprint team Yuri Kaminsky was extremely skeptical about the upcoming reforms.

Let's compare athletics and cross-country skiing as an example, - began Kaminsky. - In the 1970s, skiing was even more popular. Now in athletics there are a lot of disciplines, of which there are more and more every year, commercial competitions like the Diamond League, the growing interest of television ... Skiing, on the other hand, cannot raise its head, although the sport itself has also become much more interesting. There were city sprints, races from the general start...

- What then, in your opinion, is the problem?

In my opinion, the development of our sport is harmed by being in the same community as skiing, snowboarding and others. It is necessary to separate, create a separate federation and further develop independently. Here, for example, in swimming - distances are held in four different styles. Why can't the same be done on skis?

- It is believed that the classic sprint is noticeably inferior to the skating one in terms of entertainment.

Why?! Only Ulvang and his colleagues can think so. Or the Norwegians, who began to lose in this discipline. The spectacle, in my opinion, is determined primarily by the struggle at the finish line. There is no more struggle in the last meters than in the classic sprint anywhere. Only Nikita Kryukov I can remember about five amazing finishes, when he pulled ahead from fifth or sixth places. In the same skating sprint, this is no longer possible. And here no one bothers you, you choose the track and finish! Remember how the Norwegian Odd Bjorn Hjelmseth threw out his leg at the finish line or how Nikita won the World Cup in Stockholm - isn't that spectacular?!

How do you feel about the idea of introducing elements of ski cross into the skating sprint? Do you have an idea of what it might look like?

Officials from the federation apparently believe that spectacle is not a tactical fight, not a final showdown, but when everyone collides and falls. If innovations are implemented, this will completely change the picture of the competition and the portrait of the sprinter as a whole. We will need different training, different qualities, different equipment... It will be just a different sport, and a whole group of current athletes will simply lose the opportunity to realize themselves. In addition, it turns out that with the abolition of the classic sprint and the introduction of ski-cross elements, we are moving away from urban sprints, and this is the most spectacular format for television. What is the logic here, I can not understand.

- What can you say about the proposal to make the team sprint format mixed?

If it will be as an addition to the classic team sprint format, then why not. Mixed relays are now being introduced everywhere, this is in the trend of today. But if again, for the sake of "mixing" they try to cancel the usual team sprint, then I don't even know how to comment on it...

Ski race

Cross-country skiing - ski racing for a certain distance along a specially prepared track among persons of a certain category (age, gender, etc.). They belong to cyclic sports. The main styles of skiing are "classic style" and "free style".

Classic style

The original, “classic style” includes those types of movement in which the skier passes almost the entire distance along a previously prepared ski track, consisting of two parallel lines.

The most common are the alternating two-step stroke (used on flat areas and gentle slopes (up to 2 °), and with very good sliding - on slopes of medium steepness (up to 5 °)) and simultaneous one-step stroke (used on flat areas, on gentle slopes with good glide, as well as on slopes with satisfactory glide).

Free style

"Free style" implies that the skier is free to choose the way to move along the distance, but since the "classic" move is inferior in speed to the "skate", "free style" is, in fact, a synonym for "skating". Skating methods of transportation have been widely used since 1981, when the Finnish skier Pauli Siitonen, who was then already over 40, used it for the first time in competitions (in a 55 km race) and won.

The most common are simultaneous two-step skating (used both on flat areas and on slopes of small and medium steepness) and simultaneous one-step skating (used during starting acceleration, on any plains and gentle sections of the distance, as well as on slopes up to 10-12 ° )?

The main types of cross-country skiing

Time trial competition

With a separate start, athletes start at a certain interval in a certain sequence. As a rule, the interval is 30 s (less often - 15 s or 1 min). The sequence is determined by the draw or the current position of the athlete in the ranking (the strongest start last). Pair separate start is possible. The final result of the athlete is calculated by the formula "finish time" minus "start time".

Mass start competition

In the mass start, all athletes start at the same time. At the same time, athletes with the best rating take the most advantageous places at the start. The final result coincides with the finish time of the athlete.

pursuit racing

Pursuit races (pursuit, English pursuit - pursuit) are combined competitions, consisting of several stages. At the same time, the starting position of athletes at all stages (except the first) is determined by the results of the previous stages. As a rule, in cross-country skiing, the pursuit takes place in two stages, one of which the athletes run in the classic style, and the other in the skate style.

Pursuit races with a break are held in two days, less often - with an interval of several hours. The first race is usually held with a separate start. According to its final results, the gap from the leader for each of the participants is determined. The second race is played with a handicap equal to this gap. The winner of the first race starts first. The final result of the pursuit race coincides with the finish time of the second race.

The non-stop pursuit (duathlon; in June 2011 the FIS Ski Committee officially renamed the "duathlon" to "skiathlon") begins with a common start. After overcoming the first half of the distance with one style, athletes change skis in a specially equipped area and immediately overcome the second half of the distance with another style. The final result of the pursuit without a break coincides with the finish time of the athlete.

relay races

Teams consisting of four athletes compete in relay races (less often - three). Ski relay races consist of four stages (less often - three). Relay races can be run in one style (all participants run their stages in classic or free style) or in two styles (stages 1 and 2, participants run in classic style, and stages 3 and 4 in free style). The relay begins with a mass start, with the most advantageous places at the start being determined by a draw, or they are given to the teams that took the highest places in previous similar competitions. The transfer of the baton is carried out by touching the palm of any part of the body of the starting athlete of his team, while both athletes are in the transfer zone. The final result of the relay team is calculated by the formula "finish time of the last team member" minus "start time of the first team member" (usually equal to zero).

Individual sprint

Individual sprint competitions begin with a qualification (prologue), which is organized in the separate start format. After qualification, the selected athletes compete in the sprint finals, which take place in the form of races of various formats with a mass start of four people (variable). The number of athletes selected for the final heats does not exceed 30. Quarter-finals are held first, then semi-finals and finally final A. The table of final results of the individual sprint is formed in the following order: results of the final A, participants in the semi-finals, participants in the quarter-finals, non-qualified participants.

Team sprint

The team sprint is held as a relay race with teams consisting of two athletes who alternately replace each other, running 3-6 laps of the track each. With a sufficiently large number of declared teams, two semi-finals are held, from which an equal number of the best teams are selected for the final. The team sprint starts with a mass start. The final result of the team sprint is calculated according to the relay rules.

Ski jumping

(English ski jumping) - a sport that includes ski jumping from specially equipped ski jumps. They act as an independent sport, and are also included in the Nordic combined program. Competitions are held under the auspices of the International Ski Federation.

The origin of ski jumping

This sport originated in Norway, in a country where the folk custom was to compete in the art of skiing from the mountains (slalom).

Ski jumping in 1905.

The program of the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924 in Chamonix included jumping from a 70-meter springboard, from 1964 - from a 70 and 90-meter springboard, and this is 1936.

In 1925, the first world skiing championship was held in Czechoslovakia. In 1929, the FIS, considering that the gap of 4 years between the next Olympic Games is large, decided to annually play world championships in all types of skiing. Since 1950, racing, biathlon and jumping championships have been held once every 4 years, between the Olympic Games, and since 1982 - once every two years.

Since 1992, individual competitions have been held on the 90m and 120m springboards, team competitions on the 120m springboard. Since 1992, the classification of springboards and their configuration has changed. Modern ski jumps have become safer. Previously, there was the concept of the design capacity of the springboard. Based on this, points were awarded for the length of the jump. On the P70 springboard, a jump of 77 meters was worth 60 points. Now it is K90 (critical point), and accordingly a jump of 90 meters will be worth 60 points.

Women's competition

Until the 2010s, only men competed. In 2009, ski jumping was one of only two Winter Olympic events that were open to men only. The second exception was Nordic combined, which also includes ski jumping.

In the mid-2000s, there were proposals to allow women to compete. However, the head of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, then repeatedly expressed that at that time women's ski jumping did not meet the requirements for inclusion in the Olympics program. In his opinion, an insufficient number of athletes were involved in this sport, and the active spread of this sport did not reach the required threshold (35 countries).

Nevertheless, women have achieved the right to speak first in demonstrations, and then in official competitions under the auspices of the FIS. At first they competed in the Continental Cup (FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup).

In 2006, enthusiasts, mostly from North America, got the International Ski Federation (FIS) to include a women's tournament in the program of the world championship in Liberec-2009. On May 26, 2006, the International Ski Federation decided to allow women to compete in ski jumping during the 2009 World Ski Championships in Liberec (Czech Republic). At these competitions, the title of the first ever world champion in women's ski jumping was won by American Lindsey Van (en: Lindsey Van).

In 2009, when it became clear that women's ski jumping would not be included in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, a group of elite athletes from Canada, Norway, Germany, Slovenia and the United States decided to take legal action. The athletes claimed they were being discriminated against on the basis of their gender, in violation of Article 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, the Supreme Court of the Canadian province of British Columbia ruled that there was no violation.

December 3, 2011 in Lillehammer, Norway hosted the first ever stage of the Women's Ski Jumping World Cup.

In 2014, jumpers performed for the first time at the Olympic Games in Sochi.

Competitions

Ski jumping competitions are held in the winter and summer seasons. The most authoritative and significant are the starts held in winter on ski jumps with a critical point of 90 meters or more.

Jump technique

The flight phase of a V-style jump includes acceleration, leaving the take-off table, the flight phase and landing. Coordinated execution of all elements, coordination of the body in the air - these are the most important technical elements in the jumper's arsenal.

At the moment of landing, the athlete's legs, previously lying in the same plane, must take a position called "telemark" (informally - "stand up"). In this position, one of the legs is set forward, and the other is laid back; both legs are bent at the knees; the knee of the "back" leg is lowered down; hands are placed above the shoulders. Skis during landing are parallel and as close as possible. To perform such a landing, high coordination of movements and impeccable balance are required. Points are deducted for non-fulfillment of the “stretching” upon landing (at least two points for each of the judges).

The length of the jump of a landed athlete is the distance from the edge of the take-off table to the soles of his feet at the moment when both skis are in contact with the ground with their entire surface; in the case of a correct execution of the telemark position, this is the distance from the edge of the take-off table to the middle of the distance between the feet of the athlete.

Nordic combined

Nordic Combined is an Olympic sport that combines ski jumping and cross-country skiing in its program. Another name is the northern combination. Initially, this sport was most developed in Norway: at the first 4 Winter Olympics (1924, 1928, 1932 and 1936), the entire podium was occupied by the Norwegians, and out of 12 pre-war world championships, the Norwegians won eight. As of the end of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, the Norwegians have won 11 Olympic gold medals in Nordic combined, with the Finns in second place with 4 gold medals.

In recent years, the traditional program of Nordic combined has undergone significant changes. At the moment, two individual disciplines are held: a jump from a regular or large springboard (one attempt) and a 10 km freestyle ski race. For each of these disciplines, there are general rules with minor additions.

The starting position of the competitors on the ski track is determined by the place occupied in ski jumping. The winner is the first to go to the distance, the rest are credited with a certain number of seconds for each point of delay on the springboard (Gundersen system).

Team view - relay race 4x5 km: each of the 4 members of the team makes one jump, and then the teams leave the start of the ski relay, taking into account the overall result of the team in jumps.

Previously, both individual events and relay races were held in other formats: participants made 2 jumps from the springboard, and then ran 15 km (there was also a 7.5 km sprint after one jump). In the relay race, the athletes also made 2 jumps, and even earlier the relay race was held in the format of 3 × 10 km.

Among the successes of the biathletes of the USSR and Russia, one can note the Olympic bronze in the individual race according to the Gundersen system in 1988 in Calgary of the Estonian Allar Levandi (as part of the USSR national team), his silver in the overall standings of the 1989/90 World Cup and the bronze of the Russian Valery Stolyarov in 1998 in Nagano in the individual race. In addition, in 1999, at the World Championships in Ramsau, the Russian team consisting of Valery Stolyarov, Alexei Fadeev, Nikolai Parfenov and Dmitry Sinitsyn won the bronze medal in the relay, and Dmitry Sinitsyn won the bronze medal in the individual championship at the same championship.

individual race

The classic individual race was the very first biathlon discipline. In its modern form, it is a 20 km race for men and 15 for women, consisting of 5 4 km laps (3 km for women) with 4 shooting between laps. Athletes start separately, one after the other, with an interval of 30 seconds. The first and third shootings are made from a prone position, the second and fourth shootings - from a standing position. For each miss, one minute is added to the time for the athlete to complete the distance.

Sprint

A race of 10 km for men and 7.5 for women with two firing lines. The first shooting is prone, the second standing. Athletes start separately. For each miss, the athlete is provided for the passage of a "penalty circle" - an additional segment of the distance equal to 150 meters.

Pursuit

Race 12.5 km for men and 10 km for women. It consists of 5 circles (2.5 km each for men or 2 km each for women) with 4 firing lines (the first 2 lines are shooting lying down, the second 2 are standing). The start is given separately with a handicap corresponding to the gap from the winner in the previous "qualifying" race - sprint or individual race (in the latter case, the gap is divided in half). The first 60 athletes following the results of the qualifying race can take part in the pursuit race. For each miss in the pursuit, the athlete has to go through a 150-meter penalty loop.

Race from the general start

The 15 km race for men and 12.5 km for women consists of 5 laps (3 km for men or 2.5 km for women) with 4 firing lines (the first 2 lines are prone shooting, the second 2 are standing). The mass start race (or simply "mass start") is one of the newest types of competitions. It is attended by 30 strongest athletes based on the results of past competitions. All athletes start at the same time. For each miss, the athlete is provided with a penalty section of the distance equal to 150 meters.

This is a race on skis for a certain distance on a specially prepared track. They belong to cyclic sports.

The first cross-country skiing competition took place in Norway in 1767. Then similar competitions began to be held in Sweden and Finland. Later, a passion for racing arose in Central Europe, and by the beginning of the 20th century, national ski racing clubs had already appeared in many European countries. In 1924, the International Ski Federation (FIS) was created.

Skiing has become one of the most popular winter sports around the world. There is no sport more democratic, accessible, so closely connected with nature and so useful for a person. Cross-country skiing is of the following types:

Time trial competition

With a separate start, athletes start at a certain interval in a certain sequence. Typically, the interval is 30 seconds. The sequence is determined by a draw or the current position of the athletes in the ranking (the strongest start last). Pair separate start is possible. The final result of the athlete is calculated by the formula "finish time" minus "start time".

Mass start competitions

In the mass start, all athletes start at the same time. At the same time, athletes with the best rating take the best places at the start. The final result coincides with the finish time of the athlete.

pursuit racing

Pursuit races (pursuit) are combined competitions consisting of several stages. At the same time, the starting position of athletes at all stages (except the first) is determined by the results of the previous stages. As a rule, in cross-country skiing, the pursuit takes place in two stages, one of which the athletes run in the classic style, and the other in the free style. Pursuit races are divided into pursuit races with a break, pursuit without a break (duathlon).

relay races

Teams consisting of four athletes (rarely three) compete in relay races. Ski relay races consist of four legs (rarely three), of which legs 1 and 2 are run in classic style, and legs 3 and 4 are run in free style. The relay starts with a mass start, with the most advantageous places at the start being determined by a draw, or they are given to the teams that took the highest places in previous similar competitions. The transfer of the baton is carried out by touching the palm of any part of the body of the starting athlete of his team, while both athletes are in the transfer zone. The final result of the relay team is calculated by the formula "finish time of the last team member" minus "start time of the first team member".

Individual sprint

Individual sprint competitions begin with a qualification, which is organized in the individual start format. After qualification, the selected athletes compete in the sprint finals, which are held in the form of races of various formats with a mass start. The number of athletes selected for the final heats does not exceed 30. Quarter-finals are held first, then semi-finals and finally final A. The table of final results of the individual sprint is formed in the following order: results of the final A, participants in the semi-finals, participants in the quarter-finals, non-qualified participants.

Team sprint

History of domestic ski racing

In Russia, the first organization leading the development of skiing, the Moscow Ski Club, appeared on December 29, 1895 on the territory of the current Young Pioneers stadium.
12 athletes participated in the first national championship in cross-country skiing, it took place on February 7, 1910. Pavel Bychkov became the winner of the championship and the title of the country's first skier.
The women's championship of the country was first played in 1921, Natalya Kuznetsova won the 3 km distance.

The strongest Russian skiers, national champions Pavel Bychkov and Alexander Nemukhin first participated in international competitions in 1913 in Sweden at the Northern Games. Skiers competed at three distances - 30, 60 and 90 km. and performed unsuccessfully, but learned many useful lessons in skiing technique, ski lubrication, and equipment design. Before the beginning of the First World War, 5 championships of Russia were held.

By the number of victories in the national championships 1910-1954. Zoya Bolotova, an eighteen-time champion, occupies the highest rating. Among men, Dmitry Vasiliev was the strongest - 16 victories, he is the first holder of the title of "Honored Master of Sports".

- this is a type of skiing in which participants - athletes need to overcome the competitive distance on skis, while overtaking their rivals.

The first speed races among skiers took place as early as 1767 in Norway. Then, the example of the Norwegians was followed by the Finns and the Swedes, but this was just the beginning. Already in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the passion for cross-country skiing spread throughout the world, and in 1924 FIS, the International Ski Federation, was created, which by 2000 included 98 national federations.

Ski racing technique

Competent skiing technique is a system of movements with which an athlete can achieve maximum efficiency in his actions. It also helps to fully realize the possibilities for achieving the desired result. The main indicators of the quality of technology are efficiency, naturalness and economy.

If we talk about the actions that a skier performs, then it is worth noting three main ones:
* repulsion with sticks;
* repulsion by skis;
* slip.

There are two main styles of skiing - skating (free) and classic.

Skate (free) style

This style of movement implies that the skier can independently choose the way in which he will move along the distance. It is worth noting that the classical move is significantly inferior to the free one in speed.

Since 1981, skating has been actively used by skiers. At that time, Pauli Siitonen, a skier from Finland who had already crossed the 40-year mark, used it for the first time in competition, in a race of 55 kilometers and won.

Among free moves, these days, the most common are:
* two-step simultaneous (used on the rises of medium and small steepness, as well as flat areas);
* one-step simultaneous (on gentle sections, gentle slopes, plains, as well as during the starting climb).

Classic style

This style includes types of movement, during which the skier passes almost the entire intended distance along a pre-prepared ski track, which consists of two tracks parallel to each other.

"Classic" ski moves are divided into simultaneous and alternating, according to the method of repulsion with sticks. In according to the number of steps taken in one cycle, they are divided into alternately two-step, simultaneously one-step, and also stepless.

The most common of these, however, is considered to be the two-step alternating stroke, which is most often used on gentle slopes and uphill sections, as well as on moderately steep slopes (but only with very good glide). But a one-step simultaneous move is used only on gentle slopes (with free sliding), on flat areas or on slopes, with relatively good sliding.

It is worth talking separately about the main types of cross-country skiing.

Types of ski racing

* relay race;
* competitions with a separate start;
* individual sprint;
* pursuit races;
* team sprint;
* competitions with a general start.

Relay race

During the relay, teams compete, which consist of four (sometimes -3) athletes. Relays can be run in one or two styles. In the first case, all participants run their stage in a free or classic style, and in the second, the first and second stages, the athletes run in the “classic” style, and the next two, in the skating style.

The start of the relay race is a mass start, and in order to distribute the most favorable places, a lot is held between the participants, or they are given to the teams that have scored the most points and received high results in previous competitions in this sport.

The transfer of the baton between athletes from the same team is carried out by touching the palm of any part of the body of the starting participant, and only at the moment when both athletes are in a specially provided area for the transfer of the baton.

The result of the team is calculated by the basic formula "time of arrival of the last member of the team" minus "start time of the first member", which is usually equal to zero.

Time trial competition

In this type of cross-country skiing, athletes leave the start at a predetermined interval, in a clearly regulated sequence. Most often, this interval is thirty seconds, much less often - one minute or 15 seconds.

The sequence of the start of the athletes is determined by a draw, or by the position of the participants in the ranking (the strongest go to the track last). Sometimes a separate pair start is held.

To calculate the final result of an athlete, the formula “finish time” minus “start time” is used.

Individual sprint

The competition begins with a qualification organized in the time trial format, and after that, the athletes who have been selected compete with each other in the finals, held in the form of races with a mass start of 4 people.

pursuit racing

Pursuit races are combined competitions that are held in several stages. At the same time, the order of start of athletes, at all stages, except for the first, is established depending on the results of previous competitions.

This type of ski racing is divided into two types:
* GP without interruption;
* GP with a break.

Team sprint

It is held in the format of a relay race with teams consisting of two athletes who take turns replacing each other after each runs from three to six laps of the track. If the number of teams entered in the competition is too high, 2 semi-finals are held, from which an equal number of teams with the best results are selected for the final.

The final result of the team sprint is calculated according to the same rules as the relay races.

Competitions with a general start

In the mass start, all competitors enter the track at the same time. At the same time, the best places go to athletes who have a higher rating. The final result is the finish time of the athlete.

Ski race.

The main types and rules of cross-country skiing competitions:

Competitions with general start (mass start)

Pursuit (pursuit, Gundersen system)

relay races

Individual sprint

Team sprint

Time trial competition

With a separate start, athletes start at a certain interval in a certain sequence. As a rule, the interval is 30 seconds (less often - 15 seconds, 1 minute). The sequence is determined by a draw or the current position of the athlete in the ranking (the strongest start last). Pair separate start is possible. The final result of the athlete is calculated by the formula "finish time" minus "start time".

Mass start competitions

pursuit racing

Break-in pursuit are held in two days, less often - with an interval of several hours. The first race takes place, as a rule, with a separate start. According to its final results, the gap from the leader for each of the participants is determined. The second race is played with a handicap equal to this gap. The winner of the first race starts first. The final result of the pursuit race coincides with the finish time of the second race.

Non-stop pursuit (duathlon) starts with a common start. After overcoming the first half of the distance with one style, athletes change skis in a specially equipped area and immediately overcome the second half of the distance with another style. The final result of the pursuit without a break coincides with the finish time of the athlete.

relay races

Teams consisting of four athletes (rarely three) compete in relay races. Ski relay races consist of four legs (rarely three), of which legs 1 and 2 are run in classic style, and legs 3 and 4 are run in free style. The relay starts with a mass start, while the most favorable places at the start are determined by a draw or they are received by the teams that took the highest places in previous similar competitions. The transfer of the baton is carried out by touching the palm of any part of the body of the starting athlete of his team, while both athletes are in the transfer zone. The final result of the relay team is calculated by the formula "finish time of the last team member" minus "start time of the first team member".

Individual sprint

Individual sprint competitions begin with a qualification (prologue), which is organized in the separate start format. After qualification, the selected athletes compete in the sprint finals, which are held in the form of races of various formats with a mass start, the mass start consists of four people (changes). The number of athletes selected for the final heats does not exceed 30. Quarter-finals are held first, then semi-finals and finally final A. The table of final results of the individual sprint is formed in the following order: results of the final A, participants in the semi-finals, participants in the quarter-finals, non-qualified participants.

Team sprint

Place of the sport in various classifications:

According to the qualifications of L.P. Matveev, based on the subject of the competition and the nature of the motor activity, cross-country skiing belongs to the first of six groups. This is a sport that is characterized by active motor activity with the utmost manifestation of physical and mental qualities. Sports achievements in this sport depend on the athlete's own motor abilities.

According to the form of competitive interactions in the qualification of T. T. Dzhamgarov in the confrontation of opponents, cross-country skiing refers to direct conditional physical contact. By the nature of the interaction of partners, jointly individual actions.

In the classification of A.Ts. Puni cross-country skiing ranks first in the group as a cyclical sport.

According to L.K. Greyscale ski racing is a record sport.

Also, sports can be divided according to the nature of their impact on the ligamentous-muscular and bone-articular apparatus of the athlete, according to the degree of participation of certain muscle groups in work and the characteristics of the sports working posture when performing specific physical exercises of the chosen sport into three groups: symmetrical, asymmetric and mixed sports. In this case, we will classify cross-country skiing as a symmetrical type of exercise in which the right and left halves of the athlete's body perform simultaneously or alternately the same movements or actions. In this case, the athlete's spine occupies a strictly median position, the athlete's body is in stable balance in the frontal plane. The muscles of the trunk, abdominals and limbs receive a uniform physical load

Requirements for psychomotor and mental processes:

In the practice of physical education and sports, it is customary to distinguish the following basic motor qualities: speed, agility, strength, flexibility and endurance. Everything can be attributed to the qualities of a skier, but to a greater extent endurance. Endurance reflects the ability of a person to perform work of a certain intensity without reducing its effectiveness for a long time. Depending on the conditions of manifestation, several types of endurance are distinguished: speed (the ability to maintain high speed of movement for a long time), strength (long-term maintenance of high physical stress), static (long-term maintenance of a certain muscle tension in the absence of movement) and others. Speed-strength endurance is the most important. According to another classification, general and special endurance are distinguished. The first is understood as the ability to perform the required level of any public work (walking, running, swimming) for a long time. Skiers, cyclists, and long-distance runners have a particularly high level of general endurance - that is, those athletes whose training is associated with long-term loads. Special endurance is understood as the ability of a person to perform certain specific movements with high intensity for a long time without reducing the intensity itself. So, any of the highly qualified athletes in their type of activity has a high special endurance. There is no direct relationship between general and special endurance, although a person with a higher general endurance, other things being equal, is also distinguished by a more pronounced special endurance.

The specialized sensations and perceptions of the skier-racer include the feeling of skiing and snow, as well as the nuances depending on the profile of the track, the weather, the planned tactics of the race, and the situation that develops during the race.

Courage, determination and self-confidence are the most important qualities that a cross-country skier needs when overcoming difficult slopes during training and competition, especially on descents passed at high speed with sharp turns. It is very important to educate these qualities as early as possible, from the first years of school skiing. Naturally, when cultivating these qualities, one cannot limit oneself only to training sessions in the section. This is carried out in the course of all lessons in ski training and other sports.

The characteristic training and competitive qualities and difficulties of a skier include various factors - low temperatures, difficult terrain, poor gliding, large loads in terms of volume and intensity. Overcoming these difficulties already contributes to the development of strong-willed qualities. During training and competition, a skier needs to show qualities that largely solve the problem of improving performance and achieving high sports results. First of all, this is perseverance and perseverance in overcoming difficulties and in achieving the goal, the ability to exert maximum effort, courage and determination, self-confidence, etc. Perseverance and perseverance in overcoming difficulties and achieving the goal is an important and integral part of volitional training. During training sessions and competitions, young skiers constantly have to overcome difficulties of a different nature - objective and subjective. This is the fulfillment of a large training load, despite increasing fatigue, movement in adverse weather and sliding conditions, overcoming fear and uncertainty during difficult descents at high speed, painful experience of one's failures, self-doubt when participating in competitions. In addition to other methods for the development of volitional qualities, the competitive method is widely used when performing exercises and various tasks. To this end, the training session includes exercises that require maximum concentration of efforts to achieve the goal. At the same time, such exercises-tasks increase the emotional background of the lesson, contribute to the implementation of a larger amount of training with less psychological overload. At the same time, participation in competitions at various distances is one of the most important means of developing volitional qualities in the fight for victory, and in case of failure, it will give a powerful impetus to further training. Rarely there are athletes who do not seek revenge and resign themselves to defeat. For the development of volitional qualities, it is necessary to apply exercises or tasks that require the full mobilization of forces to achieve the goal. If the exercise and load (in terms of volume, intensity of coordinating and psychological tension) become habitual, their influence on the development of volitional qualities is significantly reduced.