International Junior Cross-Country Camp starts in Norway

The Norwegian Ski Association’s annual open Equinor International Junior Camp for Cross-Country Skiing starts in Sjusjøen this week. Now in its eighth edition, the camp registered a participation record with a total of 186 athletes and coaches present from 20 nations, from Armenia to the USA.

The programme of the camp comprises 2-phase training with roller skiing, running, strength training and agility sessions. Besides physical activity, young athletes will have an opportunity to meet Norway’s national team stars Ragnhild Haga and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. Coaches can benefit from discussions and sharing of experience in evening seminar sessions. All participants live and eat together, staying in cabins in Sjusjsøen. An afternoon full of social activities is also part of the programme.

The aim of the camp is to give junior athletes from many nations knowledge about training, exchange experiences through exercise and compete together in a friendly way. For the coaches, the aim is to pass on knowledge about each nation’s training philosophies, development skills and to get to know each other.

“The goal of the camp is that nations will learn from each other and make each other better, and thus will contribute to the development of Cross-Country sport also outside the Nordic region,” says Brit Baldishol, who is responsible for development in Nordic skiing in the Norwegian Ski Association and has organised the training camp.