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 16 timer så går det løs...

Efter at have boet i El Passo i 4 dage, er vi nu flyttet ned til JWOC-byen, Primiero de Fiera. Byen er pyntet op med flag i gaderne og orienteringsskærme i vinduerne af de fleste butikker og restauranter. Gadebilledet er præget af orienteringsløbere, herunder specielt JWOC-løbere i deres landsholdsdragter, men det er også tydeligt at publikumsløbene, der arrangeres sideløbende med junior VM, får deltagelse af rigtig mange. En norsk landholdsleder fortalte, at der alene fra Norge var 1500 deltagere.

Idag har vi også været ude på den sidste træning inden JWOC starter imorgen. Det var en sprint-træning bestående af 5 små sprinter a 300-600m, hvor vi trænede intensiv orientering i høj fart mellem gamle bygninger og i smalle gyder. At holde hovedet koldt i denne type orientering bliver formentlig afgørende for udfaldet af JWOC sprinten imorgen.

 

 

Sprinten finder sted i to mindre byer, Mezzano og Imer, ca. 4 km herfra. Første start i både herre og dameklassen er kl. 15.00 og sidste herreløber starter kl 17.51.

De danske løbere vil starte på følgende tider:

15.02 Søren Schwartz Sørensen
15.34 Marie Hauerslev
15.36 Stine Bagger Hagner
15.42 Marius Thrane Ødum
15.55 Signe Klinting
15.58 Zenia Hejlskov Mogensen
16.13 Rasmus Kragh
16.41 Emma Klingenberg
16.45 Rasmus Folino
16.51 Ida Bobach
17.25 Søren Bobach
17.40 Rasmus Thrane Hansen

Her til aften var vi del af en fantastisk åbningsceremoni. Gennem byens gader marcherede samtlige nationer gennem et hav af lokale tilskuere og publikumsløbere for at ende på byens torv. Her var der var opstillet flere storskærme og tribuner. Et af højdepunkterne under åbningsceremonien, som bør nævnes, var at Rasmus Folino, var blevet udvalgt til at læse en tale op sammen med en pige fra det italienske hold. Noget Rasmus Folino klarede i fin stil.

I forlængelse af den flotte åbningsceremoni idag, at der vil være storskærme på alle stævnepladser, at der vil være tv-transmission på RAI-sport+ efter hver finale og flere publikumsposter på hver distance, kan vi ikke andet end have store forventninger til den publikumsmæssige del af dette års JWOC. Endnu mere positivt er det, at både terræner og kort ser ud til at være helt i top. Vi kan derfor ikke andet end glæde os til den kommende uges JWOC konkurrencer, der uden tvivl vil berige os alle med en masse fantastiske oplevelser.

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 Juniorlandsholdet er ankommet til Italien

Efter 18 timers korsel naede vi igar kl. 12 frem til vores hotel, Alpenrose, i 2000 meters hojde.
Stemningen er i top blandt lobere og ledere - alle er vi nu ved at komme i junior-vm mode. De fleste har haft en periode med enten eksaminer, studenter-dage eller efterskole-afslutning. Det er derfor vigtigt med nogle dage til at finde roen og fokus. Det er der ingen tvivl om, at vi finder her i de idylleriske omgivelser i Dolomitterne.

De naste dage star pa daglig traning, o-teknik-norderi, sociale aktiviteter og behandling af smaskavanker.
I formiddags var vi ude og trane pa et kort (Valpiano), der er relevant for primart stafet og mellem-distancen. Nasten alle kom tilbage med gode oplevelser. Flere udtrykte en folelse af, at dette terran er noget, vi ihvertfald rent teknisk kan vare med i. Selvfolgelig skal vi ogsa i de naste dage yderligere optimere o-teknikken i denne terrantype. Det er derfor vigtigt, at vi arbejder videre med de erfaringer, vi gjorde os pa traningslejren hernede i august sidste ar, saledes at vi, nar vi star pa startstregen er bedst muligt forberedte.

Der er desvarre ikke internet pa vores hotel, men vi vil satse pa at komme med beretninger lobende. Pa sondag flytter vi til den officelle JWOC-indkvartering. Her er der formentlig bedre adgang til net, og loberne vil sa vidt muligt ogsa komme med indlag her pa bloggen.

Sune 

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 Interview with Åke Jönsson

The year 2009 has just started so it is about time to have a short interview with Åke Jönsson. In March 2008 we were happy that it was Åke, who was announced as the new coach of the senior team. Through 2008 he has already proven himself to be an inspiring person to work with and we are now looking forward to see what 2009 will bring. As many of you know Åke is a former elite runner from the Swedish national team and furthermore he has also, as a coach, worked with many elite runners in Halden and in the Swedish national team.

 

How did you get into orienteering and have you been running elite orienteering yourself?

 

My brother brought me into orienteering.

 

 

What is your role/function in regard to the Danish National Junior Team?

 

I have no specific role at the moment. But as I am the coach of the senior national team I have an indirect role in regard to the junior team as it is important to have thread in the work from junior to senior runner.

 

 

The Danish National Junior Team are probably having one of its most successful periods ever – what do you think is reason?

 

The Danish team leaders and the junior runners have worked for a couple of years with the three S (sej, seriøs og succesfuld). It takes time and hard work to get to this level. But if you think and do the rights things then dreams can be realized!

 

 

In elite sports you often hear athletes and coaches saying: “we can do better if we are optimizing this and that… or this is an area we could improve in”!  In your opinion, is there any particular area that Danish National Junior could do better in?

 

Sure, but I can’t point out what you have to improve. But keep “the spirit of the game” and have fun that’s my advice for the moment.

 

 

As you have got these questions you have some connection to the Danish National Junior Team. Do you have a story or a moment from a training camp or a championship that you want to share with us?

 

I have not had the opportunity to travel so much with the junior team yet, but I know them all. So for the moment I have no story.

 

 

What are your hopes for the 2009 season?

 

I hope that we in 2009 again will have medals for Danish runners. Hopefully one for the senior runners as well!

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 Interview with Michael Sørensen

Describe yourself, your family and your daily life
I am 31 years old and living in Birkerød, 20 km north of Copenhagen. I am working full time as financial administrator for the Royal Danish Ballet – a new world for me, but a very interesting world with a lot of parallels to the sports – and orienteering – world.

 

How did you get into orienteering and have you been running elite orienteering yourself?
At my 10 year birthday, 18th September 1987, the local orienteering club arranged a promotion activity for my school, and I enjoyed it so much that I became member and have been it ever since.
I use to title myself as “semi elite runner”, have won 10 medals at Danish Championships as senior and participated in EOC 2002 and NOC 2007. But with full time job and sometimes other priorities in life than training it has never been international top results. Though in the big club relays, I have ended 8th in Jukola with Farum-Tisvilde 2005 and 6th in Tiomila with Pan Kristianstad 2008.
 
What is your role/function in regard to the Danish National Junior Team?
I am coach for the Danish U-16 squad. It’s quite new in Danish orienteering that we have this opportunity for the best 15-16 years old runners. It started 3 years ago by Jan Sheel and the past 2 years I have been dedicated to be responsible for the squad. We have 3 training camps per year and are participating in the EYOC (European Youth Orienteering Championships).
I think (and hope) that the runners after two years in this squad have learned a lot (specially technical skills) and have had some experiences (for the best participated in EYOC) and therefore are better prepared when they become juniors, members of the national junior team and have their debut at JWOC.

 

The Danish National Junior Team are probably having one of its most successful periods ever – what do you think is the reason?
We have a lot of talented juniors in these years and combined with a very professional organization it is the fundament for all the successes. Our talents meet well educated and entusiastic coaches at all levels from they are starting in TKC, when they are about 13 years old, and up to senior level. There is always a fantastic and very positive atmosphere at the training camps.

 

In elite sports you often hear athletes and coaches saying: “we can do better if we are optimizing this and that… or this is an area we could improve in”!  In your opinion, is there any particular area that Danish National Junior could do better in?
No doubt that the coaches and leaders in Danish Orienteering are doing a lot of good things right now, but of course it’s always important to evaluate and find areas where we can do it even better. For the 15-16 years old runners, we always tell them to travel as much as possible to try orienteering in new terrains and in new countries. The focus for the U-16 squad is to improve the technical skills for the runners, so they are better prepared when they are starting in the junior team. Therefore at the training camps, we are focussing a lot of the technical part, but of course it’s still important to tell the runners how important the physical and mental part are.

 

As you have got these questions you have some connection to the Danish National Junior Team. Do you have a story or a moment from a training camp or a championship that you want to share with us? 
This year I have had two outstanding runners, Emma Klingenberg and Marius Thrane Ødum, who both qualified for the JWOC and did it quite well – Emma really well! It’s great to see how seriously these young runners take care of their training and competition.
Though the top moment this year for me as coach was the EYOC relay in Switzerland, where the W-16 team with Stine Bagger Hagner, Astrid Ank Jørgensen and Emma Klingenberg won the gold medals after a fantastic race. Emma had won the long distance with more than 4 minutes so we knew that she could do it at the last leg, and maybe it was therefore Stine and Astrid did so good races as well. Both of them were nervous before start but did it very well and finished in the top of their legs. It was a fantastic day and a fantastic victory for the whole team!

Foto: Tutzon

Who is the better cook - Tutzon or your mother?
I think we have a tie here (and yes, I know it’s a very diplomatic (and boring) answer…)

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 Team pictures...

Today’s photos illustrate the difficulties in getting a decent photo of the Junior National Team. 

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 Interview with Lars Lindstrøm

Describe yourself, your family and your daily life:
I’m 29 years old(as you are reading this I could be 30 years old, as my birthday is december 23^rd) and living in Birkerød north of Copenhagen. When not doing orienteering, some might say I always think orienteering, I’m styding sportsscience at Copenhagen University.

How did you get into orienteering and have you been running elite orienteering yourself?
My mom used to play football at the Danish national team(don’t ask her about it, she will talk forever). She stopped her carrier just before I was born, and my parents wanted to do a sport they could do together. They chose orienteering, and took me to my first event in October 1982. I still have the map, but I guess I didn’t orienteer at all
In 1985 at the age of six I did my first course on my own and mastered it from the beginning. Being alone in a forrest have never been a problem to me, as I grew up deep inside the famous “Sdr.Farup Bjergplantage” Bjergplantage directly translated means mountainforrest, kind of funny as the biggest height difference is 4,5m. A more logic explanation is the “Bjerg” in Western Denmark also means sanddune…

In 1998 I was in the Danish Junior National Team, and in 1999 until 2001 I was in the Danish U-25 National Team, but ended my carrier due to injuries.

What is your role/function in regard to the Danish National Junior Team?

I’m the Head Coach of the National Junior Team, and have the honour of leading a very professional coaching team.

The Danish National Junior Team are probably having one of its most successful periods ever – what do you think is reason?
This subject I could about for hours, but the main reason is the attitude in the Team. 5 years ago we had to convince our runners that they had to do more and better, now they just do it. The spirit within the team has changed due to hard work by thing coaching staff.
We think improvement, devotion, attitude and fun. We are always ready to learn new stuff, and share ideas. Anyone who wants to experience the team, just give me a call.

In elite sports you often hear athletes and coaches saying: “we can do better if we are optimizing this and that… or this is an area we could improve in”!  In your opinion, is there any particular area that Danish National Junior could do better in?
As said before we can always improve, and this includes all areas. We’ve had a fantastic season, but I sense that very interesting work is taking place in lots of places around Europe. But should I say something, I must say I’m very inspired by Killian Imhof, and his work on orienteering technique.

As you have got these questions you have some connection to the Danish National Junior Team. Do you have a story or a moment from a training camp or a championship that you want to share with us?
I have a lot, but three special moments really made me cry. All of you who are missing here, you are not forgotten.

Four years ago, two days before Christmas my phone called. It was Christian Bobach who told me the result of his examination by the doctor of Team Danmark (Responsible for all elitesports in Denmark). The worst had happened, he was diagnosed triple stressfracture in his shin, and told to forget all about the season of 2006. But some 100 hours of phonecalls, lots of coaching and alternative training made him participate at JWOC 6 month later taking and impressive 6^th place on longdistance. That was a defining moment to me, if you believe in yourself, everything is possible.

The next moment happened two days later. The younger Bobach, impressed the whole Orienteering World and won a fantastic Gold, and on the same day Signe Klinting became the youngest winner of a medal ever(now another Dane Emma Klingenberg got the record), taking a surprising bronze.

Another special moment was this year’s relay in Gothenburg. Maja Alm had been working so hard to get a medal in Gothenburg, but everything didn’t go as planned until the final day of the championship. Watching those three fantastic girls running up the finish straight was just too much for me.

Foto: Tutzon

Who is the better cook - Tutzon or your mother?
Sorry mum, you can’t cook. Well her pancakes are amazing, but Tut you’re the man.

Do you have any Christmas wishes, which are orienteering related?
Well, I have one, but I keep to myself. Sorry guys

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 Gert Nielsen

Describe yourself, your family and your daily life
I am 51 years old, living close to the forest in Allerød 30 km north of Copenhagen (In the middle of “Spring Cup land”). I am divorced and have two sons Jeppe (born 1989) and Emil (born 1992). I am working for the Danish Orienteering Federation as consultant in “Youth and Recreation” and as coach for TKC Sjælland.

How did you get into orienteering and have you been running elite orienteering yourself?
Well, my uncle started the local orienteering club in 1951, and 20 years later he asked me to join the club. My first training-event was March 14^th 1971, and I have been dedicated to the sport ever since.
I was in the Junior Elite 1976-1977 and in the Senior Elite 1978-1986 running my last international event with the Danish National Team in Mikkeli 1986 (Nordisk 4-landskamp).

What is your role/function in regard to the Danish National Junior Team?
I am the coach in TKC Sjælland, taking care of the weekly technical training on Zealand for the best runners aged 14 to 20 including runners from the Danish National Junior Team.

The Danish National Junior Team are probably having one of its most successful periods ever – what do you think is the reason?
These years we have a big group of talented juniors in. - Juniors who are dedicated to the sport and encouraging each other to be best in the world!
The talented juniors are then supported by the most professional leaders and coaches ever in Danish Junior orienteering!

In elite sports you often hear athletes and coaches saying: “we can do better if we are optimizing this and that… or this is an area we could improve in” In your opinion, is there any particular area that Danish National Junior Team could do better in?
I think, that we all the time have to improve in all areas, if we want to stay among the best teams in the world. I am looking into new ways of technical trainings next year to optimize the technical challenges for the juniors in the weekly trainings in often “well known” areas.

As you have got these questions you have some connection to the Danish National Junior Team. Do you have a story or a moment from a training camp or a championship that you want to share with us?
I was coaching the Danish National Junior Team in 1978-1980 and 1990-1991 as well, and I think the biggest moment were in 1997, when “my” grown up juniors Chris Terkelsen , Carsten Jørgensen and Torben Skovlyst together with Allan Mogensen won the WOC relay in Norway!

And the two final questions…

Who is the better cook - Tutzon or your mother?
I haven’t tasted Tutzons meals for many years and I can’t remember it, so I will say my mother…

Do you have any Christmas wishes, which are orienteering related? (I.e. orienteering shoes
I am looking forward to get one of the new TKC Sjælland sweatshirts with our fancy logo designed by Tenna Nørgaard , who won gold- and silver-medals in JWOC 1993 in Trentino!
I am sure that this new sweatshirt, logo and attitude like Tenna in 1993 will help us get more JWOC medals in Trentino 2009!

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 Interview with Mads Ingvardsen

We are not only presenting the runners of the Danish Junior National Team. We will also have interviews with people who are somehow connected to the team or the Danish Orienteering Federation. Through this interview we will present some of their viewpoints on elite orienteering and hopefully we will also have some interesting new ideas for the future.

Describe yourself, your family and your daily life
I am 32 years old – I work as managing director in the orienteering federation. I have a Master in educational psychology and live in the Northern Bronx (Nørrebro) with my gentle girlfriend Julie. I like bacon burgers with a fresh Cocio.

How did you get into orienteering and have you been running elite orienteering yourself?
Like most others, trough my family - orienteering is a family disease or a family pleasure – depending who you ask I would say.

What is your role/function in regard to the Danish National Junior Team?
I worked as a technical/mental coach in the spring – and I hope it is possible to continue this work in 2009. I think some of the runners during this year learned even more about the connection between their technical skills and their mental life.

The Danish National Junior Team are probably having one of its most successful periods ever – what do you think is the reason?
In the last 5 or 6 years the culture has been build up – a culture where it is allowed to speak up about ambitions, dreams and act according to this. The coaching philosophy is based on three simple factors: a realistic harmony between DREAMS vs. Training ACTIVITIES vs. CAPACITY. It is our duty as coaches to make sure that the athlete constantly is aware of the harmony between these elements. If you train 3-4 hours a week, and you have the capacity and the dream is JWOC-medals, then the harmony may bee there, but it is not realistic.

In elite sports you often hear athletes and coaches saying: “we can do better if we are optimizing this and that… or this is an area we could improve in”!In your opinion, is there any particular area that the Danish National Junior could do better in?
The area between mental and technical skills can be improved even more – especially in Nordic terrains. But furthermore I would mention, that it is important not to lean back and enjoy – because success is generated trough hard work and nothing else!

As you have got these questions you have some connection to the Danish National Junior Team. Do you have a story or a moment from a training camp or a championship that you want to share with us?
There are a lot of great moments – but I remember one training where I saw great spirit, great dreams and positive orienteering. Two years ago I followed Rasmus Thrane in the forest – it was a technical middle distance course at Ryekol. The same course I presented for the Swedish national team in their preparations for WOC2006 in Denmark. Rasmus was at that time only 16 years old and he ran very well. It was the first time I saw this young fellow in action and I was impressed. He ran fast and safe – but with an aggressive touch. He was only 1½ minute after the best Swedish time (David Andersson). From now on there is only one thing to do: To make sure that there is a realistic harmony between DREAMS vs. Training ACTIVITIES vs. CAPACITY.

Another great moment was to follow Søren Bobach finish at the long distance/JWOC 2008. I have never seen such a capacity to give it all out – he gave absolute everything (and the day after he ran a remarkable relay – respect).

I could write many great stories about the juniors team – they just keep on rocking.

“Talk to me Goose!”

Foto: Tutzon

Who is the better cook - Tutzon or your mother?
Tutzon – and he is the best photographer as well..

Do you have any Christmas wishes, which are orienteering related? (I.e. orienteering shoes
Nope –

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 Rasmus Thrane Hansen

Name: Rasmus Thrane Hansen
Birthday: 8/11 1990
School: Nærum Gymnasium
Club: Søllerød Ok/ Pan Kristianstad

Describe yourself, your family and your daily living
I’m 18 years old and I live in a town called Søllerød 20km north of Copenhagen. I have a little brother, who plays basketball, because he thinks orienteering is to boring. My dad began to run orienteering a year after me and he runs the club-tranings. My mum runs with some of her friends twice a week but they only run on roads. I my daily life I go to school and train and when I have time I’m together with my friends. I often train together with Søren Sørensen, Marius Ødum and Rasmus Folino.

How did you get into orienteering?
I played football together with one who ran and then his father made a training. I thought it was very fun and I began to run more. A year after I quit football.

Describe a typical training week in December, March and June. What is your favourite training session?
December and March are pretty much the same. A lot of training: intervals (2/3 times a week), long runs and strength training. I also try to do some alternative training such as biking. In June I focus more on fast trainings so I can be in top shape to jwoc. I also have 1-2 days where I rest/jog.

My favourite training is the fast trainings. They are hard but it’s that kind of training that improves your running speed. And the long run is often boring especially when you are alone.

What are your strongest and weakest sides as an orienteer? What do you do to improve these sides?
I’m pretty good at “rough” orienteering but I need to be better to use my compass and when I attack the control. I hope to improve it through night orienteering through the winter.

You have succeeded in qualifying for the Danish Junior National Team. Do you have an advice for other Danish juniors that would like to qualify?
Belive in yourself and just go for it.

Not many orienteer’s are professionals – thus many put there education quite high. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I think that it’s difficult to be a professional orienteer because it’s difficult to get sponsor. Therefore I want to take an education. But if I have the opportunity I would like to be professional.

As athlete in an endurance sport you burn a lot of calories – what is your favourite food? Who is the best cook - Tutzon or your mother?
My favorite dish is lasagne. My mum is a good cook but I think that Tutzon is a bit better.
Sorry mum...

On training camps, in tough training periods or between competitions you often need to relax to recover for the next performance. How do you chill the best?
I like to watch a movie or play computer with the other boys, even tough Lars hates when we play.

The new chief of the Danish Orienteering Federation told you to pick one animal that represents you as an orienteer (as a part of mental exercise). What was that animal?  Which animals do you think describes the leaders of the Danish Junior National Team the best?
My animal was a gazelle.
Lars is a big bear
Sune is a Blobfish
Mads is a Piglet Squid
Julie is a Platypus

Mads Ingvardsens motto is: “Det koster bønder at spille skak” and Åke Jönssons motto is “ Fan, nu kör vi”. Do you have any specific motto that keeps you going?
No fucking gifts

Do you have any Christmas wishes, which are orienteering related? (I.e. orienteering shoes)
No…

 

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 Rasmus Folino Nielsen

Name: Rasmus Folino Nielsen
Birthday: 25 april 1989
School: Gymnasium in Hillerød
Club: FiF Hillerød

Describe yourself, your family and your daily living
I’m a down to earth young man, but sometimes I just need to have some fun with my friends, or go do some crazy stuff. My closest family is my dad, Erling, my mom, Betty and my brother, Emil, who lives in Sweden. And they are of course meaning a lot to me. My daily living is based on my school and training. Beside of that I really enjoy spending time with my friends and family.

How did you get into orienteering?
My mother and father have always been running, so I started trough them. And I have just kept doing it since.

Describe a typical training week in December, March and June. What is your favourite training session?
December and March are typically the same. 3-4 intensive trainings, such as intervals or a race, and 1-2 on map with the rest of the orienteers from north Sealand. Besides that I do some strength training too. And then there is the long trip with the boys on around 90-100 with good pace. June is more or less the same, but there are often competitions – and they often change things a little.

What are your strongest and weakest sides as an orienteer? What do you do to improve these sides?
My strongest side must be running fast. I train that a lot by running intervals. My weakest side must be running uphill and finding the controls. Therefore I run a test course with Rasmus Thrane as often as possible in the area called “The Danish Switzerland”, which is quite hilly. I’m focusing a lot on having a goal for my technical trainings to get better on the orienteering.

You have succeeded in qualifying for the Danish Junior National Team. Do you have an advice for other Danish juniors that would like to qualify?
I would say that showing how much you like to run makes a huge different, I think, in who they picked for the team. But also you have to show what you can.

Not many orienteer’s are professionals – thus many put there education quite high. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I hope to see myself in ten years as a way better orienteer than I am today. And of course as an orienteer who can get to the podium at a championship if I make a good race.

As athlete in an endurance sport you burn a lot of calories – what is your favourite food? Who is the best cook - Tutzon or your mother?
I would say my mother is a better baker, but I doubt she can make better broccoli/bacon salad, but she gives him a great fight.

On training camps, in tough training periods or between competitions you often need to relax to recover for the next performance. How do you chill the best?
I love to just relax by listening to high music. It really doesn’t matter what kind of music it is. Or sit in front of the computer surfing the internet or playing a game.

The new chief of the Danish Orienteering Federation told you to pick one animal that represents you as an orienteer (as a part of mental exercise). What was that animal?  Which animals do you think describes the leaders of the Danish Junior National Team the best?
I said I was an eagle, but after a lot of thinking I would like to change it to a buffalo. Mostly because of its size and agility. I’m a little larger than the average, but still fast and agile on plain surfaces, but when it gets to steep edges I’m not normally the one to get first up. BUT still they are seldom gotten catch by the wild animals (the one starting after me).

Mads Ingvardsens motto is: “Det koster bønder at spille skak” and Åke Jönssons motto is “ Fan, nu kör vi”. Do you have any specific motto that keeps you going?
Actually I don’t got any myself, but I read Tom Reynolds from New Zealand’s: ”The pain of regret is worse than the pain of pushing yourself” and i think its a really good one. So i think of it once in a while when the warm comfy bed is calling on me when i should go run my intervals.

Do you have any Christmas wishes, which are orienteering related? (I.e. orienteering shoes)
I got a lot of orienteering related wishes: Shoes, tights, nylon pants etc. But often I don’t get that, so I have to go buy it myself afterwards – but that’s fine with me.

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 Rasmus Kiilerich Kragh

Name of the day is Rasmus Kiilerich Kragh. Rasmus made his debut at JWOC in 2006 in Lithuania, and even though he didn’t make any top results, he showed his great talent for orienteering and running in particuliar. This year he again qualified for the Danish team, and made a very strong performance on the second leg of the relay, regaining some positions, which made it possible for the team to finsh on a very good 6^th place. The first podium spot for Rasmus. Next year he again will be a strong contender for the danish relay team, and maybe even for a good result on either sprint or longdistance.

Name: Rasmus Kiilerich Kragh
Birthday: 3/4 1989
School: Skive Gymnasium, 3rd class (placed in western part of Jutland)
Club: Skive AM/Skive AMOK

Foto: Tutzon

Describe yourself, your family and your daily living:
All my personal data you can see at the top. But I’ve lived all my live in ‘Skive’, except for 3.5 years in Germany. My city has a population of 35-40 thousand inhabitants, and a high school where I study on the 3rd and last year. I’m doing this education on the normal 3 and not 4 years (as the main part of the Danish Junior Team), which in some periods are very hard and quite stressing. There isn’t much spare time left for chilling. – But I like what I do, so that’s in the end very nice.
When I got time, I spend some nice time with my friends from high school, and the ones that doesn’t live in Skive anymore. Beside that I have a little brother, Jesper who is 15 years old, who’s playing a lot of football at a quite high level. – When there’s time we chill together watching a movie or something like that.
My daily training partners are not orienteers, but are long distance runners from the local athletic club. I train with them 2-3 times a week, and the rest of the trainings I usually do alone.
Personally I like to do something out of school, and to listen to music (electronic, jazz, and a lot more), or to watch some alternative movies or stand-up. And eating is also one of my favourite disciplines. 

How did you get into orienteering?
I wanted to try some new sport – something that had to do with running. I started in the local athletic club, but some day my father told me, that he some years ago did orienteering on a quite high level, - which made me try it. – Since then I’ve been orienteering, but none in my family does it, except for my father sometimes.

Foto: Tutzon

Describe a typical training week in December, March and June. What is your favourite training session?
Uhhm… In June I’m preparing for competition, so it’s dominated by many intervals at overspeed, competition-related trainings, and generally not that many hours. So 2 interval passes, 2 technical trainings, 1-2 heavy weight trainings and core stability, 1 distance run in terrain, and some fill.  (?! ).
In December it’s the winter training. – This is typicaly 2 heavy weight trainings, 1-2 longer running sessions (1.15-1.45) with good speed, 1 interval pass with the athletics, some longer intervals, 1 technical training, and maybe some competition with the athletics or alike..
March is a mix between the two previous periods, but just nice to get started with the competitions again, after some tough winter.

What are your strongest and weakest sides as an orienteer? What do you do to improve these sides?
Strongest side must be my physics and ability to fight on – even in bad periods.  I can improve a lot on my mental and technical sides, and are working a lot with my methodical way to orienteer, always to work high selfconfidence, and to stay focused at the right times. I’m continuously working to improve my physics, as a natural part of my daily training.

Foto: Tutzon

You have succeeded in qualifying for the Danish Junior National Team. Do you have an advice for other Danish juniors that would like to qualify?
To show the right attitude and motivation, and always to trust yourself and be optimistic. You have to know that it’s allowed to have dreams – nothing’s too big, no limits. And of course – HARD work! 

Not many orienteer’s are professionals – thus many put there education quite high. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hmm hmm. At some position where I have influence and the possibility to develope and create new things. And of course I’m running orienteering at a very high level. It’s right now just a little chaotic to think of… And if I could unite the two things, it would of course be preferred. 

Foto: Tutzon

As athlete in an endurance sport you burn a lot of calories – what is your favourite food? Who is the best cook - Tutzon or your mother?
I like many dishes, but especially stuff that’s served at the right moment at the right time. After trainings some nice unhealthy stuff . But I’m sorry, but that’s my mother – nice, new and varied..

On training camps, in tough training periods or between competitions you often need to relax to recover for the next performance. How do you chill the best?
In a bed, unwinding with some sleep, music, a movie, and a lot of eatable things.
The new chief of the Danish Orienteering Federation told you to pick one animal that represents you as an orienteer (as a part of mental exercise). What was that animal?  Which animals do you think describes the leaders of the Danish Junior National Team the best?
Lars could be a nice and respectful Gorilla leader, Mads maybe an ‘old’ clever Lion (e.g. like ‘The Lion king’ Mufassa), Julie a nice caring bird-mother and at last Sune as a civet cat with great knowledge and wisdom – like Timon (just a better inside) .

Foto: Tutzon

Mads Ingvardsens motto is: “Det koster bønder at spille skak” and Åke Jönssons motto is “ Fan, nu kör vi”. Do you have any specific motto that keeps you going?
A motto?! – øhh, maybe something like; you’ve got the abilities – just use them the right way. Or something like that. Nothing specifically. But always to see possibilities instead of limitations.     

Do you have any Christmas wishes, which are orienteering related? (I.e. orienteering shoes)
Well, maybe some new orienteering shoes ;)

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 Søren Bobach

Søren Bobach is one of the two Bobach’s in the junior elite. He is a guy with high ambitions but he his already shown that he has got what it takes to compete on the highest level. Even though he was injured at JWOC this year he managed to do well en every race and thereby adding 2 bronze medals to his gold from the middle distance in 2006 in Lithuania. Next year will be his last as junior so it will be exciting to follow him at his last JWOC before he becomes a senior.

Name: Søren Bobach
Birthday: 25. April 1989
School: Silkeborg Gymnasium
Club: Silkeborg OK / Halden SK

Foto: Tutzon

Describe yourself, your family and your daily living
I am a nice guy that loves to party and do other stuff besides running. In wintertime I do other sports than orienteering like handball and volley. My big passion is football.
On a normal day I go to school and train, and if I find some extra time I spent it with my friends.
I live in Silkeborg with my mother, father and sister. My brother now lives in Kristiansand.

How did you get into orienteering?
My mom and dad dragged me to orienteering when I was just a few years old. I couldn’t run myself but I could see my parents run. Since then it has always been a part of my life.

Foto: Tutzon

What are your strongest and weakest sides as an orienteer? What do you do to improve these sides?
My strongest and weakest side as and orienteer is definately my aggression. When I manage to control it, it helps me perform at my best. And when I don’t, I fuck up. I do a lot of mental training so I can learn to control it every time.

You have succeeded in qualifying for the Danish Junior National Team. Do you have an advice for other Danish juniors that would like to qualify?
You just have to believe in your self. It is all that matters. If you really want to qualify for the team, then keep up the work and make sure to have a plan to follow. If you don’t manage to qualify, it doesn’t matter if you want to make something as a senior. There is plenty of time.

Foto: Tutzon

Not many orienteer’s are professionals – thus many put there education quite high. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I will be the best orienteer in the world! It is a huge dream to be a pro but I know that it is difficult. That is also why I plan to take an education, but not fulltime.

As athlete in an endurance sport you burn a lot of calories – what is your favourite food? Who is the best cook - Tutzon or your mother?
That’s got to pizza, naturally. Neither Tutzon nor my mother is the best cook. The best cook is I.

Foto: Tutzon

On training camps, in tough training periods or between competitions you often need to relax to recover for the next performance. How do you chill the best?
I think the best way I relax is to lie in my bed and watch a movie, drink cola and eat.

Mads Ingvardsens motto is: “Det koster bønder at spille skak” and Åke Jönssons motto is “ Fan, nu kör vi”. Do you have any specific motto that keeps you going?
Nope, not really. Only assure myself that I am good enough to manage whatever comes.

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 Marie Hauerslev

Today we are presenting Marie. She has been in the Junior Elite for two years now, but still she has 2 years left. This means that she hopefully will represent Denmark at both JWOC in Italy and on home ground in Denmark 2010. This year she ran both JWOC and EYOC and in the relay at EYOC she ran a superb 1st leg and gave the team the opportunity to take home the gold medal!

Name: Marie Hauerslev
Birthday: 13^th of November 1990
School: Egå Gymnasium
Club: OK Pan Århus

Foto: Tutzon

Describe yourself, your family and your daily living
I’m an eighteen-year-old girl that goes to school and train everyday. I live in a village, not far from Århus and here I’ve lived for almost 16 years. My mother, father and brother are running orienteering as well but I’m the one that trains the most. We like sport and outdoor activities.

How did you get into orienteering?
Both of my parents run orienteering, so they introduced it to me. In that way, I’m just like all the other orienteering kids.

Foto: Tutzon

What are your strongest and weakest sides as an orienteer? What do you do to improve these sides?
The technique is my strongest side but it depends on the terrain (of course). The physical part isn’t so good right now, so that’s obviously my weakest side. To train the physical part I’m training quite a lot of intervals and weight trainings. I’m also training my technique by running some orienteering trainings.

You have succeeded in qualifying for the Danish Junior National Team. Do you have an advice for other Danish juniors that would like to qualify?
This part I will write in Danish…
I skal bare klø på med træningen. Hvis I tror på jer selv og arbejder med at udvikle jer, kan I blive rigtig gode :)

Foto: Tutzon

Not many orienteer’s are professionals – thus many put their education quite high. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Honestly, I don’t know! I see myself as an orienteer, but at that time my orienteering career can be whatever you imagine.

As athlete in an endurance sport you burn a lot of calories – what is your favourite food? Who is the best cook - Tutzon or your mother?
That question isn’t fair … It might be my mother, her food is a little more nontraditional.
I don’t really have any favourite food.

On training camps, in tough training periods or between competitions you often need to relax to recover for the next performance. How do you chill the best?
Watching a nonsense movie or some Desperate Housewives with the other girls. Or maybe sleeping a little..

The new chief of the Danish Orienteering Federation told you to pick one animal that represents you as an orienteer (as a part of mental exercise). What was that animal?  Which animals do you think describes the leaders of the Danish Junior National Team the best?
My animal was an eagle. It represented comprehensive view, calmness and control.
Lars is obviously a bear – just look at him ;)
Sune must be Sid, from Ice Age (the ground sloth).
Mads is a human
Julie is a human

Foto: Tutzon

Mads Ingvardsens motto is: “Det koster bønder at spille skak” and Åke Jönssons motto is “ Fan, nu kör vi”. Do you have any specific motto that keeps you going?
Not really.

Do you have any Christmas wishes, which are orienteering related? (I.e. orienteering shoes)
A good orienteering season for next year, for myself and for the whole Danish Junior Team.

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 The Danish Junior Team 2009

This year we will introduce the members of Danish Junior-team 2009 as a “Christmas calendar”. Each day there will be a presentation of a runner, leader or a person, who is somehow related to the team.

We hope that you will enjoy reading about the talented runners or topics related to the team.

The runner of today is Zenia Hejlskov Mogensen, who did a fantastic run at this years JWOC sprint and surprised many by finishing 5^th. Next year will be her last as junior so she is really focused on JWOC in Italy, but she is also a runner with big potential so hopefully we will see her on the senior team some day.

Name: Zenia Hejlskov Mogensen
Birthday: 23/6 1989
School: 3^rd year at Støvring Gymnasium
Club: St. Binderup OK / OK Pan 

Foto: Tutzon

 Describe yourself, your family and your daily living?
I am at my last year of Gymnasium, which I have chosen to take in 3 years as ‘normal’ students, so there is not much time besides school, studying and training. I have got three big brothers, a mom and a dad and grandparents, who all have run orienteering, so you can say that I have grown up in a real orienteering-family. I am living south of Aalborg in a small town, where there is not much going on, so I live a pretty quiet life with the other farmers...

How did you get into orienteering?
As told my whole family have run, so I have always been with them to races and I ran my first competition by myself at the age of 5. Ever since I have run, but I first began to run at a high level 2-3 years ago. In addition to orienteering I have also played badminton and football for about 10 years. So sometimes I really miss these sports.

Describe a typical training week in December, March and June. What is your favourite training session?
I prefer to run a lot intensive trainings, but during the last years I have ‘learned’ to love running uphill - Particularly in Rebild Bakker where I live. My training is based on my inclination and I do not have any specific weekly plan. But normally I run a couple of intervals, a long uphill-training, some o-trainings, a run at high speed and some strength training. Sum up it usually come to 6-7 hours a week.

What are your strongest and weakest sides as an orienteer? What do you do to improve these sides?
I am pretty strong physical and good to simplify the map and make up a plan. My weakest side is when I come to the area around the control. I do not read enough details and therefore I do not have an exact picture of the control in my head. To improve this I have my focus at making a picture of the area around the control when I am training orienteering.

 
Foto: Tutzon

You have succeeded in qualifying for the Danish Junior National Team. Do you have an advice for other Danish juniors that would like to qualify?
Go for it! If you really got the will I am sure you can make it!

Not many orienteer’s are professionals – thus many put their education quite high. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
It is a difficult question, because I like to live in the present and take things as they come. But I am pretty sure that I am still running at a high level and hopefully I am fighting for the medals!

As athlete in an endurance sport you burn a lot of calories – what is your favourite food? Who is the best cook - Tutzon or your mother?
It depends on my mood. But Tut’s sandwiches are always a winner! Just like his lasagne is a real classic.

On training camps, in tough training periods or between competitions you often need to relax to recover for the next performance. How do you chill the best?
I love to see ‘Desperate Housewives’ or ‘Friends’ with the other girls (and boys!) from the team. And when I rarely am at home I like to spend time with my friends at cafés or dancing all night..

The new chief of the Danish Orienteering Federation told you to pick one animal that represents you as an orienteer (as a part of mental exercise). What was that animal?  Which animals do you think describes the leaders of the Danish Junior National Team the best?
I picked a dolphin, because it is having fun, but still got a great general view and is very fast! This is the type of orienteer I desire to be.
I think Sune is a hardcore hamster who is rocking to the song “Ass like that”. Julie is a nice little penguin who always takes care of us. Lars on the other hand is nothing less than a foxy beaver!

Mads Ingvardsens motto is: “Det koster bønder at spille skak” and Åke Jönssons motto is “ Fan, nu kör vi”. Do you have any specific motto that keeps you going?
“Skate or die!” Ever since I heard these serious words at HNIE (continuation school) I have lived by them..

Do you have any Christmas wishes, which are orienteering related? (I.e. orienteering shoes)
Not really.. But it would be nice with some extra hours a day!
Oh yes, then I think I wish one of those new, strong ‘headlamps’ – Maybe one of those could make me love nightorienteering...

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 Om 20 dage starter en stor orienteringsfest

Juniorverdensmesterskaberne i Göteborg om 20 dage er juniorelitens højdepunkt i 2008. Det bliver et festfyrværkeri af tekniske terræner, benhård konkurrence og stævnepladser med flere tusinde mennesker, der følger slagets gang.

I weekenden 8-9/6 gjorde vi vores sidste forberedelser – vi havde henlagt disse forberedelser på Fanø. Et stramt program blev gennemført med en helt fantastisk gruppe. Gruppen er i den grad offensiv og har en stor glæde til sporten. Med glæde og begejstring i hverdagen kommer man langt, men der skal også trænes, slides og justeres hvis vi skal nå vores drømme.

Samlingen bestod af 28 grader, høj sol, sprint, stafet træning og en lang træning på Fanø-midt kortet. Vi havde på samlingen fokus på to områder. ”Hvad gør en Peak-performance teknisk/mentalt?” og ”Hvordan formtopper man bedst?”

Hvad angår den første, så arbejder vi i dette forår med tre forskellige elementer.

• attack-strategi (AS)
• taktiske-teknik-stop (TTS)
• den optimale præstationszone

 

AS er måden, hvorpå man angriber posten. Denne skal være bevidst valgt gennem hele løbet, og med tanke på Göteborg-terræner, så er det helt afgørende for tempoet og for flydet, at der arbejdes meget struktureret med AS.

TTS er stop man laver undervejs, når man enten bliver ”over-op-hedet”, stresset eller mister kortkontakten. Formålet med TTS er at fastholde fokus under en hel konkurrence. Det er ingen sag at løbe 4 ud af 5 poster fejlfrit, men orientering handler om at komme hele vejen rundt! At turde lave TTS og fastholde fokus er mentalt meget svært og kræver grundig forberedelse.

Den optimale præstationszone kender vi alle, men hvordan man finder den frem på selve dagen, hvor alt skal lykkes, kræver stor forberedelse og indsigt i eget spændingsniveau.

Med 3 uger til konkurrencerne starter er det fysiske fundament gennem hård træning i løbet af vinteren og foråret forhåbentlig ved at være på plads. Det gælder nu om at tilrettelægge træningen, så den maksimale fysiske kapacitet nås i ugen, hvor det går løs i Göteborg. Der er helt sikkert forskellige måder at nå en formtop på. I junioreliten finder vi, det afgørende, at man i de sidste 1-2 uger prioriterer at blive frisk mellem træningerne, men samtidig bibeholder fart og intensitet. Vores anbefaling er altså at træne ca. 60-75% af de timer man ville træne i en normal uge, men med samme antal træningspas og med minimum den samme intensitet! Forhåbentlig vil dette være medvirkende til, at løberne på startstregen vil have optimeret deres fysiske forudsætninger for at præstere godt.

Gruppen har arbejdet hårdt mod JWOC – der har været forhindringer undervejs, og der er blevet trænet, og der er blevet slidt. I de sidste tre uger skal der justeres fysisk, teknisk og mentalt – så vi er klar mod udfordringerne. Vejen mod JWOC har været spændende og givende for alle i gruppen, og vi har muligheden for nogle gode præstationer – men vi skal slå til på dagen!

Chris Terkelsen har sagt følgende om VM-sølvet i 2005, og det er så sandt som det er sagt."Jeg havde drømt og håbet og troet, men følelsen af endelig at stå med en individuel VM-medalje i hånden var uovertruffen.
"

Forud for VM gik års grundige forberedelser, og jeg kom til VM med god form og stærke forhåbninger, men indtil man faktisk står med medaljen i hånden, er den slags bare tankespind. Man skal sgu slå til den dag, det virkelig gælder.”"

Vi skal slå til på dagen – ellers er drømmen bare tankespind!

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