The Evolvement of Session Design From Junior Age to Senior Peak Performance in World-Class Cross-Country Skiers

Purpose : To compare designs of training sessions applied by world-class cross-country skiers during their most successful junior and senior season. Methods : Retrospective analysis of self-reported training characteristics (ie, training form, intensity, and exercise mode) among 8 male and 7 female world-class cross-country skiers was conducted. Results : Total number of sessions (441 71 vs 519 34, P < .001, large effect) and mean duration (1.5 0.1 h vs 1.7 0.1 h, P < .001, moderate effect) increased from junior to senior age. More double-session days were performed at senior age (124 50 vs 197 29 d, P < .001, large). The number (310 64 vs 393 64, P < .001, large effect) and duration (1.3 0.1 h vs 1.5 0.1 h, P < .001, moderate effect) of low-intensity training sessions increased from junior to senior age. Regarding intensive training, most emphasis was put on high-intensity training sessions lasting 20 to 39 minutes with <5-minute intervals at junior age, while 40 to 59 minutes of moderate-intensity training with 5- to 9-minute intervals was predominant at senior age. More MIXED (combined moderate- and high-intensity) sessions (9 7 vs 14 7, P = .023, moderate effect) and longer races (0.5 0.1 h vs 0.6 0.1 h, P = 0.29, moderate effect) compensated for fewer high-intensity training sessions at senior age (36 17 vs 25 10, P = .027, moderate effect). Duration of strength-training sessions increased significantly (0.6 0.1 vs 0.8 0.2 h, P = 0.30, moderate effect), while other training forms remained unchanged. Conclusions : World-class cross-country skiers increased their training volume from junior to senior age primarily by more and longer low-intensity training sessions and more often training twice per day. Concurrently, the most frequent intensive sessions were modified from high- to moderate-intensity training, lasted longer, and contained longer intervals.