As biathletes trade rollerskis for real skis, how much changes in their technique, shooting and training? Italian men’s team coach Andrea Zattoni and Swedish shooting coach Jonne Kahkonen explain how they approach the transition from summer to winter.

For the athletes, the transition to snow marks one of the final steps towards the start of the winter season. Besides getting used to a different surface and longer skis, the transition requires some small adaptations on the skiing as much as on the shooting position and the way training is structured in the weeks before the first competitions.

Let's find out more about the challenges of returning to snow, the different approaches to early-season training and what coaches focus on during those first sessions on skis.

Biathlonworld (BW): What changes in skiing technique between rollerskiing and skiing on snow? Is it just a matter of how it feels, or are there also technical and movement adjustments to make? And how, if at all, does this transition affect shooting?

Jonne Kahkonen: Of course, it’s a matter of getting used to the feeling again after a summer on rollerskis, which are shorter. However, we always work on the technique athletes should use on skis during the winter, so the way we train doesn’t really change.

Shooting can be a little different. You have to pay attention to the position because rollerskis sit higher off the ground and usually are a little more unstable. As a result, it can be easy for an athlete not to execute the movement as they normally would. At the beginning, I put a lot of emphasis on single-shot exercises, so athletes can get used to skis again. In the end, shooting on snow is usually easier.

Andrea Zattoni: The skiing technique itself doesn’t change, and the movements are the same. The main difference lies in kinesthetic differentiation: in other words, how much force one applies with each push to get the same response, because asphalt and snow are obviously different surfaces.

BW: How do you manage training during this transition period? Some teams alternate between rollerskis and snow, for example on glaciers or in indoor facilities, while others move almost entirely to wherever the first ski tracks are ready. Which approach do you follow, and what are the pros and cons of the different options?

JK: Both approaches work well. The question is what you are missing: basic training, which you can do without snow through rollerskiing, running and so on, or technical work on snow.

Generally, younger athletes may benefit more from training off snow. Conditions also play a role. If it rains all the time and the snow is wet and deep, for example, that isn’t ideal.

AZ: At this time of year, we generally try to put more emphasis on intensity. At the same time, some teams may choose to go to a glacier to work on the specific adaptations required for skiing on snow. In that case, you have to find a compromise, because at altitude you need to do a little more volume.

An indoor ski tunnel offers a good balance: you are at a lower altitude but can still do high-intensity training on snow.

Our approach is to focus on intensity specific to biathlon, with plenty of high-intensity exercises combined with shooting. Then, we will use the first weeks of November to regain the feel for the snow and arrive ready for the first competitions.

BW: What are the most important aspects for a coach to focus on during the first sessions on snow, and which ones can perhaps be left aside?

AZ: Since we work with high-level athletes, they don’t need much time to readjust to the feeling of skiing on snow. In our case, we only need to focus on skating technique, whereas cross-country skiers also have to readjust to classic. That makes things a little easier for us.

Usually, we spend a couple of days working on low intensity to re-establish the technical adaptations and get some volume in. After that, we move straight into more specific training, especially because almost everyone has their first races coming up very soon.

BW: At this stage of the season, athletes often return to skiing without combining it with shooting. Is that a good thing, or can it be a problem given the change in equipment and surface?

JK: It’s not a problem. You simply need to structure the programme well and make sure you don’t neglect shooting. It’s important to dedicate time to biathlon-specific training.

AZ: Generally speaking, in the Italian team, when we return to skiing, we also return to shooting. Those who prefer to train on a glacier, however, need to separate the different components of biathlon: one part focuses solely on the technical and physical aspects of cross-country skiing, while another combines rollerskiing and shooting in the afternoon.

Generally, top level athletes are well accustomed to this. However, this time of the year, we often get not-ideal snow conditions and then they can struggle a little, for example, when the snow is soft. But it’s often a mix of technical and psychological factors. Skiing on a poor track is never pleasant, and when you start your season like that, you can take a couple of knocks straight away. You have to adapt quickly.

The new LaVita IBU World Cup Biathlon season kicks off on 26 November in Kontiolahti, with a handful of test races on snow taking place around the world in the weeks leading up to the opener. However, teams choose to manage the transition from rollerskis to snow, one thing is certain: everyone wants to arrive in Finland ready to hit the ground running.

Photos: Deubert, Walter/IBU ; Authamayou, Barbieri/NordicFocus