A top cross country skier is peaking in his/her career around ages 25-27 years. Coach-expert is aware of the 15 year and longer time horizons needed for systematic development, and in having the patience required to allow the age-dependent progressions in athletic development to occur. For each athlete involved with cross country skiing we need to examine what we do throughout 15 years of systematic, progressive training, not simply the last five.

From this perspective Petr has coached number of athletes that mostly skied top in the Czech Republic or Canada in their categories, also some of whom went on to become members of the Czech National Ski Team and represented at the World Cups, Junior and Under 23 World Championships or at Paralympic Games.

Demonstration of Petr’s expertise is Ondra Horyna (20 years old), recently owner of silver medal from 20 km pursuit at the World Junior Ski Championships 2007 in Tarvisio, Italy. Petr was his coach as well as of all the junior group in 1997 through 2002. He says: “Ondra was not the best one when he had came as a novice in our training group, however he was keen and patient to work on himself.”

In spite of it Ondra is at the beginning of his career, the toughest step to succeed senior category is ahead of him. Good luck, Ondra!