By early November, you can already feel that tingle of excitement. In a few weeks’ time, the Lavita IBU World Cup kicks off in Kontiolahti. After the long summer, all biathlon fans are already eagerly awaiting the chance to see their idols back on the snow. What is this time like for the athletes and their coaches? How do they manage the balancing act between tension and anticipation? And what tips does a mental coach offer for keeping your nerves under control?

For Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, preparing for the World Cup is part of his routine. The Olympic champion from Norway has been competing in the World Cup since 2018. "In the weeks leading up to the start of the World Cup, I focus on specific training. I try to replicate the conditions of the competition and prepare myself mentally for it. For me, it’s very important to prepare mentally and really get into the right frame of mind for the competition," says the 29-year-old.

Tension as an important companion – Johannes Dale-Skjevdal

"Anyone who only starts mentally preparing for the upcoming World Cup races in November is clearly too late," says Kristel Kiens, Wellbeing Coordinator at the Biathlon Integrity Unit. From a sports psychologist’s perspective, the mental preparation of a competitive athlete requires just as much time and training as the physical aspect. Every athlete must develop their own strategies, practice them over a period of weeks and establish routines. This is no longer possible a few days before the first competition. But of course, every athlete follows their own individual path.

"Thanks to my experience, I’ve now got my nerves more or less under control," explains Dale-Skjevdal. "Personally, I need a bit of nervousness to perform well, but it has to be under control. It can be a bit uncomfortable, but I think a bit of it is good, because it shows that it matters to me."

According to Kiens, it is not a question of suppressing any feelings. It is far more important to understand why certain emotions arise and to accept that they are there. It’s normal to feel excited.

Achieving your goal with a relaxed attitude – Campbell Wright

Campbell Wright takes a different approach. "I don’t mentally prepare for the World Cup. I’m convinced that my mind doesn’t affect my sporting performance. It’s just like the line 'My body makes the jump' from the Batman film 'The Dark Knight Rises'," says Wright.

He describes the training season as tedious and boring, and he would like to compete in more World Cup races each season.

Intense weeks – Sandra Flunger

Sandra Flunger is embarking on her first winter season as coach of the German team – so these November weeks are a very special and intense time for her. "This is the phase when the many months of preparation, planning and hard work should slowly start to pay off. At the same time, it’s about putting the finishing touches in place, consolidating routines and, together with the athletes, building the confidence they need for the first competitions," says the 44-year-old.

For her, even so close to the start of the season, there are still moments when she can switch off to reflect and find inner peace and clarity for herself – even though she remains in high demand as a coach. "I have to keep an eye on many things at once: the sporting development of each individual athlete, managing training, coordination within the coaching team and, of course, individual needs.

"You can feel the tension slowly building. Everyone is trying to be as well prepared as possible when they line up at the start. In this context, it’s particularly important to me to instil a sense of calm, to build trust and to give the athletes the feeling that we’re ready as a team."

Even though their roles and routines may differ, Dale-Skjevdal, Wright and Flunger have one thing in common: they’re delighted that the biathlon season is finally getting underway again. They want to celebrate successes and write new chapters in their stories.

Photos: IBU I Phototool