Training gives skill, they say.
Nils van der Poel, 25, is a double world champion in skating and holds the world record in the 10,000 meters, but his training philosophy differs from many others.
Skating is not uncommon.
In one year, Nils trains 1100 hours, of which he stands only 18 hours on skates.
But once he goes, it is the maximum speed that counts.
- It is clear that it sounds very little but you have to understand that a high-intensity interval workout on a skate can not accumulate more than 25-26 minutes.
So 18 hours through 25-26 minutes then you start approaching 50 high-intensity interval sessions in a period of 2-3 months, says Nils van der Poel.
Skates before the competition season
His training year is very divided, large parts of the year he does not even touch the skates.
It is the period before the competition season, approximately October to December, that he does all his skating sessions at competitive speed.
- If I have to go slowly, the technology is so far from the technology I have when I compete, which means that you contaminate your technology by practicing something that you should not compete in then, says Nils van der Poel.
Do you think you can apply your approach to other fitness sports?
- In general, I think you do well to train most of what you want to be successful in, I think a cyclist should cycle, a runner should run and a skier should ski but then I know skiers who say that their training has benefited from replace a lot of ski passes with running, says Nils van der Poel.
Doubles the training hours
This year, however, there may be a few more hours on skates than 18, as the competition season starts a little earlier than usual.
The Olympic qualifiers run in November.
- I would not be surprised if I spend 35 hours on ski boots this winter and that is almost a one hundred percent increase, says Nils van der Poel with a big smile.