30Oct 2020 by DS News Team
Natalia Nepryaeva: I Don’t Do Screaming, Shouting Or Public Breaking Of Poles

Natalia Nepryaeva: I Don’t Do Screaming, Shouting Or Public Breaking Of Poles

Leaders, Newsfeed
Natalia Nepryaeva doesn't really need introductions in 2020. But just to refresh you memory: the 3d overall in the World Cup 2019/20, arguably the most universal female skier of our times ( 4h in both Distance and Sprint ratings) and Russia's best hope for women's program at Oberstdorf-2021. We spoke in Ramsau , Russians' traditional October training camp - and their first on snow this season. The pandemics wreaked havoc with all of my spring plans. I was planning to do some downhill skiing with friends, to visit St. Petersburg - instead had to stay at parents’ countryside cabin, “ dacha”, in more or less full isolation - the only positive side was spending more time with the family! The summer training wasn’t too good either. Long, very long training…
Read More
26Oct 2020 by DS News Team
Markus Cramer: It’s Time For Change At FIS , Especially Way It Handles International Competitions

Markus Cramer: It’s Time For Change At FIS , Especially Way It Handles International Competitions

Leaders, Newsfeed
...Markus Cramer never looses his cool, affable manner but neither is he ever been known for mincing his words. The coach who played such a decisive role in careers of Dario Cologna and Sergei Ustiugov can afford to be blunt. This time Mr.Cramer sounds frustrated and borderline angry about the upcoming season: - FIS has decided to go ahead with the World Cup season, with most of what was planned before remained on the schedule - but, of course, nobody could tell with any certainty whether it would happen as planned.1 -There is a lack of general understanding and guidance in What If? Ssituations. What if, say, 2-3 athletes would test positive at one of the WCup stage? How's the virus testing and , need be, isolation of a suspected/confirmed…
Read More
24Oct 2020 by DS News Team
Egor Sorin: Russian Skiers Are Well Provided For – Better Than Most Other Teams. It Would Matter In Crisis Times

Egor Sorin: Russian Skiers Are Well Provided For – Better Than Most Other Teams. It Would Matter In Crisis Times

Newsfeed, Training & Outfitting
Egor Sorin runs one of the training groups in large Team Russia. In practice the training groups operate much like independent teams. Sorin, former international-level skier, cut his " coaching teeth" working with Markus Cramer - and now in a way competes against his former mentor. At least his skiers do.We followed Sorin & his young skiers ( most of the group is U23 ) on their training in Ramsau We don’t see a huge problem in the lack of summer snow training this year. We concentrated instead on mid-altitude training that we see essential. [caption id="attachment_17194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Setting the waypoints for hill running session. Sorin often runs/skies along [/caption]) True, we spend around 250 days/year in the camps and competing or traveling from one to the next. It’s…
Read More
23Oct 2020 by DS News Team
Gloves Are For Losers: Brits On Cutting Edge Of Science

Gloves Are For Losers: Brits On Cutting Edge Of Science

Newsfeed, Trivia
Have you noticed?! We did. And ought to share with you as we strive to keep you informed and , well, entertained. [caption id="attachment_17201" align="alignnone" width="889"] "Gloves are for loosers" says Team GB leader ( there are three of them - and all are leaders, keeping it simple) James Clugnet[/caption] The top-secret British research has recently established that running on skis without gloves adds some 5 to 7% to dexterity while reducing airflow around skier's trunk by a vast, yet to be measured margin. [caption id="attachment_17199" align="alignnone" width="894"] Note how gloveless motion flow contributes to Andrew Musgrave's interval speed - while enhancing his facial expressions for the camera ( fringe benefit the scientists are currently puzzled by)[/caption] There are also indications that gloveless skiing actively contributes to metabolic processes and…
Read More
20Oct 2020 by DS News Team
Where Are You, Ski Groupies?!

Where Are You, Ski Groupies?!

Newsfeed, Travel & Mass Sport
The sport of cross-country skiing desperately needs..no, not the snow - that too, but there are ways of getting the tracks done even when the Nature is unwilling. What cross-country skiing needs is a shift in culture where big stars are seen not as home boy/ girl, but a true celebrity with a worldwide appeal & with all the relevant trappings of the status. Groupies! Yep, like in the rock music or ( do we dare say it aloud? ) like in the ski jumping and the biathlon. The people who travel with their heroes for a chance to see them up close and , with any luck, personal. As in " swap a few words" -personal, that is. ...October would be a good time to start. In Ramsau/ on…
Read More