Development: Nordic Combined Training Camp in Predazzo

The freshly snow-covered Val di Fiemme awaited the participants of the FIS Development Camp for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined in the second week of January. They enjoyed the hospitality of the Stella Alpina Hotel and experienced the Italian lifestyle while working on various skills on the ski jumps in Predazzo (ITA) and on the cross-country trails in the valley. A diverse program awaited the 24 athletes and 9 coaches from the ski associations of Georgia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Romania, under the direction of the camp coach, Sandro Sambugaro.

The local organizing committee (OC) team and the ski jumping hill crew prepared the facilities daily so that even the youngest and least experienced athletes could safely work on the technical aspects. After two technical training sessions a day on the ski jump or the cross-country ski trail, the athletes gained valuable off-snow experience in the gym every evening. Fostering team spirit was also part of the program. Games, relays, and small fun competitions alternated with sessions on stretching, coordination, and ski jumping-specific content. Everything was accompanied by great motivation from the development coaches, Sandro Sambugaro, Paolo Bernardi, and Margarita Sokolova, who was also responsible for translations.

On the final Saturday, all participants took part in the New Star Trophy alongside local athletes, experiencing competition on all the courses and applying the ambition and technical progress gained from the camp.