In the 4x10 km relay at the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Andrey Larkov, Alexander Bolshunov, Alexey Chervotkin and Denis Spitsov ran for the team of Olympic athletes from Russia. The editors of TASS-DOSSIER have prepared biographies of athletes.

Andrey Vitalievich Larkov born on November 25, 1989 in Zelenodolsk (Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, now Tatarstan).

He studied at children's and youth sports school No. 4 in Zelenodolsk. He trained with Vladimir Makhalov and Gennady Rozhkov.

Andrey Larkov is the champion of Russia (2017, 70 km freestyle), three-time silver (2013, 70 km freestyle; 2014 - skiathlon, 50 km freestyle) and three-time bronze (2013 - skiathlon; 2015, 2017 - 15 km freestyle) winner of the national championship.

In January - February 2015 in Strbske Pleso (Slovakia) he became a three-time champion of the XXVII Winter Universiade. He won the sprint freestyle race and the 30 km freestyle race, and also excelled as part of the relay team.

In March 2017 in Lahti (Finland) he won a silver medal at the World Relay Championships.

Master of Sports of Russia of international class (2013).

Awarded with gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation (2015).

Alexander Alexandrovich Bolshunov born on December 31, 1996 in the village. Podyvotie (Sevsky district, Bryansk region).

He began ski training under the guidance of his father. He improved his skills at the Bryansk Regional Sports School of Olympic Reserve in cross-country skiing (coach - Nikolai Nekhitrov).

In December 2016, he won the freestyle sprint and the 30 km classic style race as part of the Krasnogorsk Ski Track competition (Moscow region).

In February 2017 in Soldier Hollow (Utah, USA) at the World Championships among juniors and youth under 23, he won gold medals in the 15 km freestyle race and skiathlon, and also took second place in the classic sprint.

In March - April 2017, at the Russian cross-country skiing championship in Khanty-Mansiysk, he won the 50 km race in the classic style and took third place in the skiathlon. He also won silver in the relay and bronze in the team sprint.

In July 2017, at the World Roller Ski Championships in Skellefteå (Sweden), he excelled in the 20 km mass start and in the 22.5 km individual race.

On February 13, 2018, he won a bronze medal in the classic style sprint at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Honored Master of Sports of Russia (2018).

Alexey Alexandrovich Chervotkin born on April 30, 1995 in the village. Zykovs (Kotelnichsky district, Kirov region).

I started skiing in the village. Darovsky (Kirov region) under the guidance of coach Viktor Vereshchagin. In the early 2010s. moved to Moscow, where he continued his studies at the Olympic reserve sports school No. 81 “Babushkino”.

In January 2013, at the Junior World Championships in Liberec (Czech Republic), he won a gold medal in the relay race and became a bronze medalist in skiathlon. In January - February 2014, at similar competitions in Val di Fiemme (Italy), he took second place in the skiathlon and third in the relay. In February 2015, at the Junior World Championships in Almaty (Kazakhstan), he excelled in the 10 km freestyle race, as well as in the relay and skiathlon.

In February 2013, at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Brasov (Romania), he won gold medals in the 10 km freestyle race, 7.5 km classic style and mixed relay.

In March 2014, at the Russian Junior Championships in Syktyvkar, he took first place at a distance of 15 km freestyle, and also became a bronze medalist at a distance of 10 km classical style and in skiathlon. In March 2015, at similar competitions in Tyumen, he excelled in the freestyle sprint and took third place in the 10 km freestyle.

In February 2016, in Rasnov (Romania), he took second place in the 15 km classic style race at the World Junior and U23 Championships. In February 2017, at a similar competition in Soldier Hollow, he won silver medals in the 15 km freestyle and skiathlon.

Andrey Chervotkin is the champion of Russia (2016 - 50 km freestyle) and three-time silver medalist of the national championship (2016 - team sprint; 2017 - skiathlon, 50 km classic style).

In February 2017, at the III Winter Military World Games in Sochi, he won the 15 km freestyle race.

In March 2017, he won a silver medal at the World Relay Championships in Lahti.

Master of Sports of Russia of international class (2015).

Denis Sergeevich Spitsov born on August 16, 1996 in the village. Vozhega (Vologda region).

He started ski training at the insistence of his father. Since 2006, he has been improving his skills at the sports school in the village. Vozhega (now the Vozhegoda Children and Youth Sports School named after Olympic champion A.I. Bogaliy) under the leadership of coach Evgeny Vanyukov.

At the age of 14, he moved to Tyumen with his coach. He studied at the Luiza Noskova Sports Reserve Training Center for cross-country skiing and biathlon. Since 2014, he has represented the Tyumen Center for Sports Training and Sports Events (TSSP72).

In February 2015, in Almaty, he became the winner of the Junior World Championships in the relay race, as well as a silver medalist in the individual 10 km freestyle race and a bronze medalist in skiathlon.

In March 2015, in Tyumen, he became the champion of Russia among juniors in skiathlon and 10 km freestyle, and also took second place in the sprint freestyle race.

In February 2016, at the World Championships among juniors and youth under 23 in Rasnov, he took second place in the relay race and third in the 15 km freestyle race. In February 2017, at similar competitions in Soldier Hollow, he won bronze medals in the 15 km freestyle and skiathlon races. In January 2018, at the same tournament in Goms (Switzerland), he excelled in skiathlon and took second place in the 15 km classic style.

Denis Spitsov is a three-time silver medalist of the Russian Championship (2016, 2017 - relay; 2017 - 15 km freestyle).

On February 16, 2018, he won a bronze medal at the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang in the 15 km freestyle race.

Honored Master of Sports of Russia (2018). 0spo/sau/ ptd.

In which the participating athletes need to overcome a competitive distance on skis, while overtaking their rivals.

The first competitions in speed running among skiers took place back in 1767 in Norway. Then, the Finns and Swedes followed the example of the Norwegians, but this was just the beginning. Already at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the passion for cross-country skiing spread throughout the world, and in 1924 the FIS was created - the International Ski Federation, which by 2000 included 98 national federations.

Ski racing technique

If we talk about the actions that a skier performs, then it is worth noting three main ones:

* repulsion with sticks;
* pushing off with skis;
* slip.

There are two main styles of skiing - skating (free) and classic.

Skating (free) style

This style of movement implies that the skier can independently choose the method by which he will move along the distance. It is worth noting that the classic move is significantly inferior in speed to the free move.

Since 1981, skating methods of transportation have been actively used by skiers. At that time, Pauli Siitonen, a skier from Finland who had already crossed the 40-year-old mark, used it for the first time in competition, in a 55-kilometer race and won.

Among the free moves, the most common these days are:

* two-step simultaneous (used on climbs of medium and low steepness, as well as flat areas);
* one-step simultaneous (on flat sections, gentle climbs, plains, as well as during the starting climb).

Classic style

This style includes types of movement during which the skier covers almost the entire intended distance along a pre-prepared ski track, which consists of two tracks located parallel to each other.

“Classical” ski moves are divided into simultaneous and alternating, according to the method of pushing off with poles. Based on the number of steps performed in one cycle, they are divided into alternately two-step, simultaneously one-step, and also stepless.

The most common of them, however, is considered to be a two-step alternating stroke, which is most often used on gentle slopes and uphill sections, as well as on moderately steep climbs (but only with very good glide). But the one-step simultaneous move is used only on gentle slopes (with free gliding), on flat areas or on slopes, with relatively good gliding.

It is worth talking separately about the main types of cross-country skiing.

Types of ski racing

Relay race

During the relay race, teams that consist of four (sometimes -3) athletes compete. Relay races can be held in one or two styles. In the first case, all participants run their stage in the free or classic style, and in the second, the first and second stages are run in the “classic” style, and the next two in the skating style.

The beginning of the relay is a mass start, and in order to distribute the most advantageous places, a draw is held between the participants, or they are given to the teams that scored the most points and received high results in previous competitions in this sport.

The transfer of the relay between athletes from the same team is carried out by touching the palm of any part of the body of the starting participant, and only at the moment when both athletes are in a specially designated relay transfer zone.

The team's result is calculated using the basic formula "arrival time of the last team member" minus "starting time of the first member", which is usually zero.

Time trial competitions

In this type of cross-country skiing, athletes leave the start at a predetermined interval, in a clearly regulated sequence. Most often, this interval is thirty seconds, much less often - one minute or 15 seconds.

The starting sequence of the athletes is determined by drawing lots, or by the position of the participants in the ranking (the strongest enter the track last). Sometimes a separate pair start is held.

To calculate the final result of an athlete, the formula “finish time” minus “start time” is used.

Individual Sprint

The competition begins with qualifying, organized in a time trial format, and after this, the athletes who have been selected compete with each other in the finals, held in the form of races with a mass start of 4 people.

Pursuit racing

Pursuit races are combined competitions that are held in several stages. At the same time, the starting order of athletes at all stages, except the first, is established depending on the results of previous competitions.

This type of cross-country skiing is divided into two types:

* GP without interruption;
* GP with a break.

Team sprint

It is held in a relay race format with teams consisting of two athletes taking turns replacing each other after each has completed three to six laps of the track. If the number of teams entered into the competition is too large, 2 semi-finals are held, from which an equal number of teams with the best results are selected for the final.

The final result of the team sprint is calculated according to the same rules as the relay race.

Competitions with general start

In a mass start, all competitors enter the track at the same time. At the same time, the best places go to athletes who have a higher rating. The final result is the athlete's finishing time.

Ski race- a winter Olympic sport in which athletes need to cover a certain distance on skis in a minimum time. Ski racing is divided into men's and women's.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) was founded in 1924 and unites national federations.

History of the origin and development of cross-country skiing (skiing)

Historians and dated to the 6th-7th century BC. written evidence suggests that the first skis appeared among northern hunters. The first skis were very similar to modern snowshoes.

Due to the harsh climate, the Norwegians showed the greatest interest in skiing. At the beginning of the 18th century, skiing was part of the compulsory training program for Norwegian troops. And at the end of the same century, the first cross-country skiing competitions took place.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the world's first ski community was created. A little later, the first ski club was opened in Finland, after which such clubs appeared in many countries in Europe, America and Asia. By the end of the century, cross-country skiing competitions began to be held in almost all countries of the world.

Ski racing first appeared at the 1924 Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix. Competitions for women appeared at the 1952 Olympic Games in Oslo.

Ski racing rules

The competition rules are approved by the International Ski Federation (“International Competition Rules”).

The following types of starts are used in competitions: separate, general, group and pursuit starts. Time trials usually use intervals of 30 seconds.

The starter gives a warning: “Attention” 10 seconds before the start. 5 seconds before the start, the countdown begins: “5…4…3…2…1”, followed by the starting signal “March”. During the race, athletes are not allowed to use any means of transportation other than skis and ski poles. Skiers must only follow the trail and pass all checkpoints.

Along the way, athletes can change one ski or poles. The change of skis is monitored by a panel of judges; before the start, all skis must be marked.

Finish times are recorded manually or electrically and are given in full seconds.

Cross-country skiing track

Cross-country skiing courses should be located in such a way that they best provide an opportunity to evaluate the technical, tactical and physical preparation of athletes. The level of difficulty must correspond to the level of competition. The main components of the cross-country skiing route:

• One third of the course should consist of climbs ranging from 9% to 18% with a height difference of more than 10 meters, as well as several short climbs with a gradient of over 18%.
• One third is hilly, rugged terrain consisting of short ascents and descents (with elevation differences ranging from 1 to 9 meters).
• One third consists of a variety of descents requiring different descent techniques. The routes are used only in the direction established for the competition.

It is better if the track consists of several laps so that spectators can enjoy watching the competing athletes. At official competitions, the length of the distance ranges from 800 m to 50 km.

Skiing equipment

• Skis are the main element of a skier's equipment. Skis are classic, skating and combined. Previously, when choosing skis, it was important skier's height, then now the length of the skis primarily depends on the weight. Each manufacturer has tables that indicate what length of skis corresponds to what weight.
• Boots are special footwear designed for use with skis.
• There are two binding systems - SNS and NNN, and ski boots are only suitable for one of them.
• Ski poles are equipment used by skiers to maintain balance and accelerate movement when skiing.

Skiing styles

Skating style (free) - implies that the skier can independently choose the method by which he will move along the distance. This style is faster than the classic style.

Classic style is a type of movement in which the skier travels almost the entire distance on a prepared ski track. “Classical” ski moves are divided according to the method of pushing off with poles into alternating and simultaneous.

Main types of cross-country skiing

• Time trial competitions are skiing competitions in which athletes start one after another at a certain interval. Typically the interval between starts is 30 seconds.
• Mass start competition is a ski competition in which all athletes start at the same time.
• Pursuit race or pursuit (English pursuit - pursuit) is a competition of several stages. Skiers run one stage in the classic style, and the other in the skating style. The position of skiers at all stages is determined by the results of previous stages.
• A relay is a skiing competition in which teams of four compete. The ski relay consists of 4 stages. 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 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.
• Sprint (individual and team).

Cross-country skiing competition

• The Olympic Games are the most prestigious cross-country skiing competitions, held every 4 years.
• The World Ski Championships are the second most prestigious cross-country skiing competition and are held every odd-numbered year.
• The World Ski Cup is an annual cross-country skiing competition organized by the International Ski Federation from October to March.

And the Finns, later the passion for racing arose in Central Europe. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, national ski clubs appeared in many countries. In 1924, the International Ski Federation (FIS) was created. The FIS had 98 national federations.

Encyclopedic YouTube

1 / 5

✪ Skis. World Championship. Lahti. Men.. Sprint. Free style. The final. Ustyugov is second.

✪ Ski racing. World Championship, Lahti, Finland. Relay, 4x10 km men

✪ Film by Ilya Trifanov about the 2017 World Ski Championships.

✪ Top 5 annoying falls of skiers before the finish line /ski racing/

✪ Championship of the Republic of Kazakhstan in cross-country skiing among students in sports schools 02/04/2019

Subtitles

Technique

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

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 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 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 10-13° ).

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 semi -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”. 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, for which a unique, safest technique has also been developed.

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

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

Finish of the ski race

When using manual timing, the finishing time is recorded at the moment the athlete's front foot crosses the finish line. When using an electronic timing system, the time is recorded when contact is broken. The measuring point of the light or photo barrier should be located at a height of 25 cm above the snow surface.

It is unlikely that such a characteristic will enhance the drama of the competition, which is the main factor in the attractiveness of the action. Competitions with an obvious outcome are unlikely to be of interest to the observer.

Pyeongchang 2018

The most recent Olympic impressions do not add optimism to hopes of strengthening interest in cross-country skiing. I had the opportunity to attend all the biathlon and cross-country skiing competitions at the Pyeongchang Games. Attendance at the ski stadium was dismal. It was never 100% full. There were simply incidental episodes when the more or less filled stands at the qualifying sprint races became empty during the finals.

Access directly to the ski and biathlon slopes was prohibited. The stadiums themselves are quite compact, and the stands are designed for no more than 4-5 thousand people. The biathlon and ski stadiums are located literally right next to each other. Biathlon competitions always attracted a noticeably larger number of spectators.

In fairness, it is necessary to mention the problem of attendance at the Olympic competitions in Pyeongchang for other sports. Spectators rarely faced the need to obtain extra tickets. My accreditation as a representative of Skiing magazine allowed me to visit various Olympic venues. I did not notice such large voids in the stands, which often caught my eye at the ski stadium, at other sports venues of the 2018 Olympics.

Of course, television ratings for Olympic broadcasts do not have a direct correlation with competition attendance. However, a comparative and, in my opinion, quite objective idea of ​​spectator interest in different sports can be obtained, because in addition to local fans, foreign tourists from all over the world always come to the Olympic Games. By the way, Russian fans were not in the minority in Pyeongchang.

About biathlon and more

The surge in popularity of biathlon occurred in the 2000s. The reasons for this phenomenon have been discussed repeatedly (for example, and).

But for a very long time ski racing held an undeniable priority. In the pursuit of biathlon glory, competitive cross-country skiing formats began to change noticeably. A thorough rework was completed, according to the head of the FIS ski racing committee, one of the ideologists of these changes, Vegard Ulvang, by 2005. Apparently, the period of stability has been unjustifiably prolonged if new times encourage us to look for unusual approaches to the development of cross-country skiing, which is what the department of three-time Olympic champion Ulvang is now doing.

There's only one, but O a very sad illustration to the topic of the current popularity of cross-country skiing in Russia: the 2017 national championship, Khanty-Mansiysk.

The final of the sprint with the participation of the local Ugra (Khanty-Mansiysk) skier Sergei Ustyugov, who became the hero of the World Championships just a month ago. Empty stands on a Sunday at the beautiful Winter Sports Center, located almost in the city center. The entire national team of the country, led by Ustyugov, took part in the championship. There is no one in the stands. And not only on this day. Not a single television broadcast of this tournament entered the top ratings of domestic sports television programs, in contrast to the national biathlon championship, which took place on the same days, but without the participation of several leading athletes... Alas!

Try to look at biathlon as the same ski racing, only with additional adventures, which (adventures) have become a tasty attraction for spectators. Now look at the new ski cross discipline from the same perspective, and then maybe you will change your negative attitude towards the latest FIS program offerings. Ski cross has already been successfully tested in competitions of the official FIS calendar - at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games.

Previously, ski cross was practiced many times and successfully in various commercial tournaments. For example, the Russian Sprint Tour, whose program was dominated by non-format races, was held from 2007 to 2012 and demonstrated the highest daily ratings on the Sport Russia TV channel. Participants and spectators of the Sprint Tour successfully mastered such non-standard competitions as 100-meter races, group pursuit races, elimination races, group points races (intermediate finishes). The current ski cross was called mountain sprint in the Tour and was a kind of calling card of the stage race. It turned out that unknown new competition formulas sometimes had greater television interest than traditional competitions.

Red Bull Nordix's foreign extreme ski shows routinely attract huge audiences on site and in front of television screens.

FIS already has positive experience in introducing similar cross-country disciplines, that is, obstacle racing, into its other winter sports. In freestyle and snowboarding, these new disciplines remain the most attractive to spectators. Thus, the Russian stages of the World Cup near Miass in the Chelyabinsk region in freestyle and snowboard cross are accompanied by thousands of sold-out stadiums.

But ski racing does not keep up with the urgent demands for change, and hence the pursuit of overdue transformations.

Another exotic discipline is on the agenda for Winter Olympic innovation. The 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne will feature ski mountaineering. The relatively long-standing hobby of supporters of alpine skiing and mountaineering has turned into a rather serious competitive test with its own regulations, international federation, championships and World Cups. Ski mountaineering is a mix of alpine skiing, ski touring with elements of cross-country skiing.

The Youth Olympics have become a kind of testing ground for testing new sports and disciplines. Most often, innovations in the children's Olympic Games program are further developed in large competitions and tournaments.

And one more example from such a conservative sport as athletics has remained for many years. It outlines some very challenging changes. Participants in the upcoming European Olympic Games 2019 in Minsk will be offered an experimental team tournament formula. If the premiere is successful, the “queen of sports” may be transformed beyond recognition.

Afterword

Why these groans? Not at all for grumbling or reproaches, but in order to recognize the problem and, most importantly, try to find ways to solve it. Or at least try to help FIS (more precisely, V. Ulvang’s committee) during this crisis period. Consider this also a request for help.

P. S. Recent The Tour de Ski had high television ratings during the stage race. And the similar races that soon followed (mass starts at short distances of 10 and 15 km) at the Cup stage in Seefeld, Austria, went off with a bang! without any hassle.