Cross-country skiing distance. Ski race. Technique in cross-country skiing

Ski race

Cross-country skiing is a ski race over a certain distance on 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, “classical style” includes those types of movement in which the skier passes almost the entire distance along a pre-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 gliding - on slopes of medium steepness (up to 5°)) and simultaneous single-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 method of movement along the distance, but since the “classic” stroke is inferior in speed to the “skating” stroke, “free style” is, in fact, synonymous with “skating”. Skating has been widely used since 1981, when Finnish skier Pauli Siitonen, then in his 40s, first used it in competition (in a 55 km race) and won.

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

Main types of cross-country skiing

Time trial competitions

In a time trial, 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 athlete’s current position in the ranking (the strongest start last). Pair time trials are possible. The final result of the athlete is calculated using the formula “finish time” minus “start time”.

Mass start competition

In a mass start, all athletes start at the same time. At the same time, athletes with the best ratings occupy the most advantageous places at the start. The final result coincides with the athlete’s finishing time.

Pursuit racing

Pursuit races (pursuit) are combined competitions consisting of several stages. In this case, the starting position of athletes at all stages (except the first) is determined based on the results of previous stages. As a rule, in cross-country skiing, the pursuit takes place in two stages, one of which athletes run in the classical style, and the other in the skating style.

Pursuit races with a break are held over two days, less often - at intervals of several hours. The first race usually takes place with a time trial. Based on its final results, the gap from the leader for each participant is determined. The second race is held 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 finishing time of the second race.

The pursuit race without a break (duathlon; in June 2011, the FIS Ski Committee officially renamed “duathlon” to “skiathlon”) begins with a general start. After covering 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 a different style. The final result of the pursuit race without a break coincides with the athlete’s finishing time.

Relay races

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

Individual Sprint

Individual sprint competitions begin with a qualification (prologue), which is organized in a time trial format. After qualifying, selected athletes compete in the sprint finals, which are held in the form of races of different formats with a mass start of four people (varies). The number of athletes selected for the final races does not exceed 30. First, the quarter-finals are held, then the semi-finals and finally the A final. The table of final results of the individual sprint is formed in the following order: results of the final A, semi-final participants, quarter-final participants, unqualified participants.

Team sprint

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

Ski jumping

(eng. ski jumping) - a sport that includes ski jumping from specially equipped springboards. They perform as an independent sport and are also included in the Nordic Combined program. The competitions are held under the auspices of the International Ski Federation.

The origins of ski jumping

This sport originated in Norway, in a country where the popular custom was to compete in the art of slalom skiing.

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 Ski Championships took place in Czechoslovakia. In 1929, the FIS, considering that the gap of 4 years between the next Olympic Games was large, decided to annually hold world championships in all types of skiing. Since 1950, championships in racing, combined and jumping began to be 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 90 m and 120 m springboards, and team competitions on the 120 m springboard. Since 1992, the classification of the springboards and their configuration have changed. Modern ski jumps have become safer. Previously, there was the concept of design capacity of a 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 this 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 two events at the Winter Olympics in which only men took part. The second exception was Nordic combined, which also includes ski jumping.

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

Nevertheless, women gained the right to compete, 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, mainly from North America, persuaded 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.

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

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

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 springboards with a critical point of 90 meters or more.

Jump technique

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

At the moment of landing, the athlete’s legs, previously lying in the same plane, must take a position called “telemark” (unofficially - “straddle”). In this position, one of the legs is put forward and the other is laid back; both legs are bent at the knees; the knee of the “back” leg is lowered down; arms are placed above shoulders. During landing, the skis are parallel and as close as possible. To perform such a landing requires high coordination of movements and impeccable balance. For failure to perform a step-up during landing, points are deducted (at least two points by each judge).

The length of the jump of a landing 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 telemark position, this is the distance from the edge of the take-off table to the middle of the distance between the athlete’s feet.

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 Norwegians, and of the 12 pre-war world championships, 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, followed by the Finns in second place with 4 gold medals.

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

The starting position of the competition participants on the ski slope is determined by the place taken in the ski jumping. The winner is the first to go the distance; the rest are awarded a certain number of seconds for each point of delay on the springboard (Gundersen system).

Team event - 4-5 km relay: each of the 4 team members makes one jump, and then the teams leave the start of the ski relay, taking into account the team’s overall result in the jumps.

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

Among the successes of the combined athletes 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, Alexey Fadeev, Nikolai Parfenov and Dmitry Sinitsyn won a bronze medal in the relay race, and Dmitry Sinitsyn won a bronze medal in the individual competition at the same championship.

Individual race

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

Sprint

A 10 km race for men and 7.5 km for women with two shooting ranges. The first shooting is prone, the second is standing. Athletes start separately. For each miss, the athlete is required to go through a “penalty loop” - an additional segment of the distance equal to 150 meters.

Pursuit

A 12.5 km race for men and a 10 km race for women. Consists of 5 circles (2.5 km for men or 2 km for women) with 4 firing lines (the first 2 lines are prone, 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 will have to go through a 150-meter penalty loop.

Race from general start

The race of 15 km for men and 12.5 km for women consists of 5 laps (3 km for men or 2.5 km for women) with 4 shooting stages (the first 2 stages are prone shooting, the second 2 are standing). The general start race (or simply “mass start”) is one of the newest types of competitions. 30 of the strongest athletes based on the results of past competitions take part in it. 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.

Technique

The main styles of skiing are “classic style” and “free style”.

Classic style

The original “classical style” includes those types of movement in which the skier travels almost the entire distance along a pre-prepared ski track, consisting of two parallel tracks. “Classical” ski moves are divided according to the method of pushing off with poles into alternating and simultaneous. Based on the number of steps in one cycle, simultaneous one-step, alternately two-step and stepless moves are distinguished. The most common are the alternating two-step stroke (used on rising areas and gentle slopes, and with very good gliding - on slopes of medium steepness (up to 5°)) and simultaneous single-step stroke (used on flat areas, on gentle slopes with good gliding, as well as on slopes with satisfactory glide).

Free style

“Free style” implies that the skier is free to choose the method of movement along the distance, but since the “classic” move is inferior in speed to the “skate” move, “free style” is, in fact, synonymous with “skating move". Skating has been widely used since 1981, when Finnish skier Pauli Siitonen, then in his 40s, first used it in competition (in a 55 km race) and won. The most common are the simultaneous two-step skating stroke (used both on flat areas and on slopes of small and medium steepness) and the simultaneous one-step skating stroke (used during starting acceleration, on any plains and flat sections of the distance, as well as on slopes up to 10-12° ).

Overcoming climbs

The climbs can be overcome either by one of the types of skating, or by the following methods: a sliding step (on climbs with a steepness of 5° to 10°), a walking step (from 10° to 15°), a running step (15° and more), a half-herringbone ", "herringbone", "ladder" (not used in competitions), in some cases, when the rise is quite sharp, the "herringbone" is used.

Descent

When descending, athletes use different types of stances that differ in the angle of bend of the knees. In a high stance, this angle is 140-160°; for a medium stance, the knee bend angle is 120-140° (120-130° for the version of this stance, the so-called “rest” stance), both are used on uneven slopes. And on smooth descents, the fastest, lowest stance is used, for which the knee bend angle is less than 120°.

Braking

The most common type of braking is “plow”. At the same time, when descending obliquely, stop braking is often used. To prevent injuries when unexpected obstacles arise on the track, it is sometimes necessary to use fall braking, but not in a sitting position, but sideways, for which we have also developed our own, safest, technique.

Turn

The step turn is very common in competitions, while the plow turn is often used for tight turns. Sometimes methods such as a stop turn, a turn from a stop and a turn on parallel skis are used.

Main types of cross-country skiing

Time trial competitions
Competitions with general start (mass start)
Pursuit races (skiathlon, Gundersen system)
Individual Sprint
Team sprint

Time trial competitions

Mass start competition

Pursuit racing

Pursuit racing pursuit- pursuit) are combined competitions consisting of several stages. In this case, the starting position of athletes at all stages (except the first) is determined based on the results of previous stages. As a rule, in cross-country skiing, the pursuit takes place in two stages, one of which athletes run in the classic style, and the other in the free style.

Pursuit races with a break are held over two days, less often - with an interval of several hours. The first race usually takes place with a time trial. Based on its final results, the gap from the leader for each participant is determined. The second race is run 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 finishing time of the second race.

Pursuit race without a break (duathlon; In June 2011, the FIS Ski Committee officially renamed “duathlon” to "skiathlon") begins with a general start. After covering 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 a different style. The final result of the pursuit race without a break coincides with the athlete’s finishing time.

Relay races

Individual Sprint

Individual sprint competitions begin with a qualification (prologue), which is organized in a time trial format. After qualification, the selected athletes compete in the sprint finals, which take place in the form of races of different formats with a mass start, the mass start consists of four people (varies). The number of athletes selected for the final races does not exceed 30. First, the quarter-finals are held, then the semi-finals and finally the A final. The table of final results of the individual sprint is formed in the following order: results of the final A, semi-final participants, quarter-final participants, unqualified participants.

Team sprint

Distance length

At official competitions, the length of the distance ranges from 800 m to 50 km. In this case, one distance can consist of several circles (for entertainment).

Literature

Skiing: Textbook. for institutes and technical physical cult / Ed. V. D. Evstratova, B. I. Sergeeva, G. B. Chukardina. - M.: Physical culture and sport, 1989. - 319 p.

Educational film

Skiing technique.. Soyuzsportfilm. 1984. 23 minutes.

Notes

Main types and rules of cross-country skiing competitions:

Competitions with general start (mass start)

Pursuit racing (Pursuit, Gundersen system)

Relay races

Individual Sprint

Team sprint

Time trial competitions

In a time trial, 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 athlete’s current position in the ranking (the strongest start last). Pair time trials are possible. The final result of the athlete is calculated using the formula “finish time” minus “start time”.

Mass start competition

Pursuit racing

Pursuit races are combined competitions consisting of several stages. In this case, the starting position of athletes at all stages (except the first) is determined based on the results of previous stages. As a rule, in cross-country skiing, the pursuit takes place in two stages, one of which athletes run in the classic style, and the other in the free style.

Pursuit races with a break are held over two days, less often - with an interval of several hours. The first race usually takes place with a time trial. Based on its final results, the gap from the leader for each participant is determined. The second race is held 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 finishing time of the second race.

Pursuit without a break (duathlon) begins with a common start. After covering 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 a different style. The final result of the pursuit race without a break coincides with the athlete’s finishing time.

Relay races

Teams consisting of four athletes (less often three) compete in relay races. Ski relay races consist of four stages (less often three), of which the 1st and 2nd stages are run in the classical style, and the 3rd and 4th stages are run in the free style. The relay begins with a mass start, with the most advantageous places at the start being determined by drawing lots or being given to the teams that took the highest places in previous similar competitions. The relay is transferred by touching the palm of any part of the body of the starting athlete of his team, while both athletes are in the relay transfer zone. The final result of the relay team is calculated using the formula “finishing time of the last team member” minus “starting time of the first team member.”

Individual Sprint

Individual sprint competitions begin with a qualification (prologue), which is organized in a time trial format. After qualification, the selected athletes compete in the sprint finals, which are held in the form of races of different formats with a mass start, the mass start consists of four people (varies). The number of athletes selected for the final races does not exceed 30. First, the quarter-finals are held, then the semi-finals and finally the A final. The table of final results of the individual sprint is formed in the following order: results of the final A, semi-final participants, quarter-final participants, unqualified 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 motor activity, cross-country skiing belongs to the first of six groups. This is a sport 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 capabilities.

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

In the classification of A.Ts. Puni cross-country skiing occupies the first group as a cyclic sport.

According to the classification of L.K. Serova ski racing is a record sport.

Also, sports can be divided according to the nature of their impact on the ligamentous-muscular and osteoarticular apparatus of the athlete, according to the degree of participation of certain muscle groups in the work and the characteristics of the sports working posture when performing specific physical exercises of the chosen sport into three groups: symmetrical, asymmetrical and mixed sports. In this case, we will classify cross-country skiing as a symmetrical activity in which the right and left halves of the athlete’s body perform the same movements or actions simultaneously or alternately. 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 torso, abdominals and limbs receive uniform physical activity

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. Anything can be considered a skier's qualities, but mostly endurance. Endurance reflects a person's ability 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 great physical stress), static (long-term maintenance of a certain muscle tension in the absence of movement) and others. Speed-strength endurance is most important. According to another classification, general and special endurance are distinguished. The first refers to the ability to perform the required level of any generally accessible 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 involves long-term loads. Special endurance refers to a person's ability to perform certain specific movements at high intensity for a long time without reducing the intensity itself. Thus, any of the highly qualified athletes in their type of activity has high special endurance. There is no direct relationship between general and special endurance, although those with higher general endurance, other things being equal, are also distinguished by more pronounced special endurance.

The specialized sensations and perceptions of a skier-racer include the feeling of skis and snow, and the nuances also depend on the profile of the route, the weather, the intended race tactics, and the situation developing during the race.

Courage, determination and self-confidence are the most important qualities that a ski racer needs when overcoming difficult trails during training and competitions, especially on slopes covered at high speed with sharp turns. It is very important to cultivate these qualities as early as possible, from the first years of training in the school skiing section. Naturally, when cultivating these qualities, one cannot limit oneself only to training sessions in the section. This is carried out during 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 volume and intensity. Overcoming these difficulties already contributes to the development of strong-willed qualities. During training and competitions, a skier needs to demonstrate qualities that largely solve the problem of increasing performance and achieving high sports results. This is, first of all, perseverance and perseverance in overcoming difficulties and achieving the goal, the ability to exert maximum effort, courage and determination, self-confidence, etc. Persistence 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 various kinds - objective and subjective. This is carrying out a large training load, despite increasing fatigue, moving in unfavorable weather and sliding conditions, overcoming feelings of fear and uncertainty during difficult descents at high speed, painful experience of one’s failures, and lack of confidence in one’s abilities when participating in competitions. In addition to other methods for developing volitional qualities, the competitive method is widely used when performing exercises and various tasks. For this purpose, the training session includes exercises that require maximum concentration of effort to achieve the goal. At the same time, such exercises-tasks increase the emotional background of the lesson and facilitate the completion of a larger volume 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 strong-willed qualities when fighting for victory, and in case of failure it will give a powerful impetus for further preparation. It is rare to find athletes who do not seek revenge and accept defeat. To develop strong-willed qualities, it is necessary to use exercises or tasks that require full mobilization of forces to achieve the goal. If the exercise and load (in terms of volume, intensity of coordination and psychological tension) become habitual, their influence on the development of volitional qualities is significantly reduced.

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

The first speed skiing competitions took place in Norway in 1767. Then similar competitions began to be held in Sweden and Finland. Later, the 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.

All over the world, skiing has become one of the most popular winter sports. There is no sport that is more democratic, accessible, so closely connected with nature and so beneficial for humans. Ski races are of the following types:

Time trial competitions

In a time trial, athletes start at a certain interval in a certain sequence. Typically the interval is 30 seconds. The sequence is determined by the draw or the current position of the athletes in the ranking (the strongest start last). Pair time trials are possible. The final result of the athlete is calculated using the formula “finish time” minus “start time”.

Mass start competitions

In a mass start, all athletes start at the same time. At the same time, athletes with the best ratings take the best places at the start. The final result coincides with the athlete’s finishing time.

Pursuit racing

Relay races

Individual Sprint

Individual sprint competitions begin with qualifications, which are organized in a time trial format. After qualifying, the selected athletes compete in the sprint finals, which are held in the form of races of different formats with a mass start. The number of athletes selected for the final races does not exceed 30. First, the quarter-finals are held, then the semi-finals and finally the A final. The table of final results of the individual sprint is formed in the following order: results of the final A, semi-final participants, quarter-final participants, unqualified participants.

Team sprint

History of domestic cross-country skiing

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 took part in the first national cross-country skiing championship, which took place on February 7, 1910. The winner of the championship and the title of the country's first skier was Pavel Bychkov.
The country's women's championship was first played in 1921; Natalya Kuznetsova won at a distance of 3 km.

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 on skiing techniques, ski lubrication, and equipment design. Before the start of the First World War, 5 Russian championships were held.

By the number of victories at the national championships 1910-1954. The highest rating is occupied by Zoya Bolotova, an eighteen-time champion. Among the men, Dmitry Vasiliev was the strongest - 16 victories, he is the first holder of the title “Honored Master of Sports”.

Cross-country skiing (cross-country skiing)- a type of skiing in which the athlete’s movement (running) is carried out using skis and ski poles on a winter road (on snow).

Story

The first start of cross-country skiing on the territory of modern Norway in 1767. Norway was followed by Finland and Sweden. And already in the XIX-XX centuries. Ski clubs began to appear. Ski racing first appeared at the 1924 Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix. Competitions for women were introduced at the 1952 Olympic Games in Oslo.

Types of equipment

Classic style
Initially, the “classical style” includes those types of movement in which the skier travels almost the entire distance along a pre-prepared ski track, consisting of two parallel tracks. “Classical” ski moves are divided according to the method of pushing off with poles into alternating and simultaneous. Based on the number of steps in one cycle, simultaneous one-step, alternately two-step and stepless moves are distinguished. The most common are the alternating two-step stroke (used on uphill sections and gentle slopes, and with very good gliding - on slopes of medium steepness (up to 5°) and simultaneous single-step stroke (used on flat areas, on gentle slopes with good gliding, as well as on slopes with satisfactory sliding).

Free style
“Free style” implies that the skier is free to choose the method of movement along the distance, but since the “classic” stroke is inferior in speed to the “skating” stroke, “free style” is, in fact, synonymous with “skating”. Skating methods of transportation have been widely used since 1981, when Finnish skier Pauli Siitonen, who was then already over 40, first used it in competition - in a 55 km race and won. The most common are the simultaneous two-step skating stroke (used both on flat areas and on slopes of small and medium steepness) and the simultaneous one-step skating stroke (used during starting acceleration, on any plains and flat sections of the distance, as well as on slopes up to 10-13° ).

Main types of cross-country skiing:
Time trial competitions
Competitions with general start (mass start)
Pursuit racing (pursuit, pursuit, Gundersen system)
Relay races
Individual Sprint
Team sprint

Mass start competition
In a mass start, all athletes start at the same time. At the same time, athletes with the best ratings occupy the most advantageous places at the start. The final result coincides with the athlete’s finishing time.

Pursuit racing
Pursuit races are combined competitions consisting of several stages. In this case, the starting position of athletes at all stages (except the first) is determined based on the results of previous stages. As a rule, in cross-country skiing, the pursuit takes place in two stages, one of which athletes run in the classical style, and the other in the skating style.
Pursuit races with a break are held over two days, less often - with an interval of several hours. The first race usually takes place with a time trial. Based on its final results, the gap from the leader for each participant is determined. The second race is held 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 finishing time of the second race.
A pursuit race without a break (skiathlon) begins with a general start. After covering 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 a different style. The final result of the pursuit race without a break coincides with the athlete’s finishing time.

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

Individual Sprint
Individual sprint competitions begin with a qualification (prologue), which is organized in a time trial format. After qualifying, selected athletes compete in the sprint finals, which are held in the form of races of different formats with a mass start of four people (varies). The number of athletes selected for the final races does not exceed 30. First, the quarter-finals are held, then the semi-finals and finally the A final. The table of final results of the individual sprint is formed in the following order: results of the final A, semi-final participants, quarter-final participants, unqualified participants.

Team sprint
The team sprint is conducted as a relay race with teams consisting of two athletes who take turns replacing each other, running 3-6 laps of the track each. If the number of entered teams is sufficiently large, two semi-finals are held, from which an equal number of the best teams are selected for the final. The team sprint begins with a mass start. The final result of the team sprint is calculated according to the relay rules.
At official competitions, the length of the distance ranges from 800 m to 50 km. In this case, one distance can consist of several circles (for entertainment).

Time trial competitions
3, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 30, 50 km

Mass start competition
10, 15, 30, 50, 70 km

Pursuit racing
5, 7.5, 10, 15 km

Relay races (length of one stage)
2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 km

Individual sprint (men)
1 – 1.4 km

Individual sprint (women)
0.8 – 1.2km

Team sprint (men)
2х(3-6) 1 — 1.6km

Team sprint (women)
2x(3-6) 0.8 – 1.4km