XC Skiing: Arnaud Chautemps Opts for Change
This is not a destination like any other that Arnaud Chautemps has chosen to prepare for his 2024/2025 season. Indeed, for nearly a month and a half, the Savoyard will train with the Japanese national cross-country skiing team. After returning from a training camp in Sweden with his new team, the Frenchman is now in the Land of the Rising Sun until October.
From Japan, the twenty-seven-year-old smelter agreed to reflect on the reasons for this exile in an interview with Nordic Magazine.
- What motivated you to move to Japan?
I am doing an internship for a month and a half in Japan. The project came together in the middle of last winter. I wanted to do something a bit more exotic and change what I was used to doing. I had been in a routine for seven years and needed a change to break my routine. It’s an opportunity to meet new people and step out of my comfort zone. It allows me to see how they operate here. Moreover, I have been very well received here.
- Had you planned this project with any specific coaches or staff?
I have been working with Samuel Régé-Gianasso [former coach of the French women’s B team, Editor’s Note] since this spring. He took over the Japanese team and he is also my former club coach with whom I have maintained very good relations. He was very enthusiastic about this project when I suggested joining and doing part of the preparation with them.
- Tell us about your first weeks with your new training teammates…
We were in Sweden for two weeks with the team. We spent a week in Torsby in the tunnel and then we ran the Alliansloppet. Now, our base camp is in Kanasawa. This weekend, we have national races. Then, we will be on a ten-day training camp near Nagano at an altitude of 1600 meters.
“I really like it here” Arnaud Chautemps to Nordic Magazine
- Do you come to these national races with specific ambitions?
The objective is also to lower my FIS points. Here, the summer races also count for the winter circuit. In addition, in Japan, they often score very good points. After a complicated season for me, this would allow me to position myself for the start of the season.
- How does this work for you within the group?
It’s a beautiful experience, and it allows me to discover new places with a different culture. I really enjoy it. I get along very well with the other athletes, and there are some great leaders, including Ryo Hirose, who achieved a top 15 and a twenty-first place in the World Cup last year. There is also Naoto Baba, who is a major reference here.
- Were there any elements that struck you upon your arrival?
I was very surprised by their level in distance, especially with the young ones. They have some athletes who are very strong in classic individual events. They struggle a bit more in sprinting because they don’t develop it at all. They lack strategy and positioning concepts. It’s a bit of a give-and-take because I bring them sprinting skills, and they bring distance skills to me. These are very interesting exchanges.
- Have you already scheduled your return to France?
I will return to France around October 10 to finalize my preparation. I needed to find myself and have this confrontation while being free to implement what I wanted. I am also very well supported by my sponsors and the Army who trust me. This has greatly helped me to get back on track and set everything up for a full winter. I am also fortunate to be supported in France by other coaches whom I can rely on. It is very motivating. I would also like to thank the company Maruse for providing me with accommodation here in Japan, it is great!
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