Interviews #3: Jaka Piltaver
Now, here is an interview with Jaka Piltaver, member of OK Brežice and also Slovenian national team runner. Jaka participated on five World orienteering championships, national champion in relay from 2005-2009 also competed on last year´s Croatia open. Here are his toughts about 2009;
Hello Jaka,
Orienteering season 2009 is now past. What are your impresion of it? Are you satisfy with your performance?
- I'm not satisfied with season 2009 becouse I didn't achieve my goals (the most important goal was WOC in Hungary, to qualify in final). But desipte that I must say that everythnig was not so bad and I am trying to focus on good stuff. Actually I think season 09 gave me many things to think about. It was just a preparation for the future.
Could you explain us some of your basic philosophy of orienteering technique training? – Do you focus on runing without mistake, simplyfication, compass or it is something else?
- In seson 2009 I started to change my O-technique. Now, I am trying to be always 50m or so in front, trying to think in future. For this kind of orienteering simplyfication is maybe the most important . I realized that I am not discipliend enough (for example, to look on your compass everytime I leave a control point) and that is the most often reason for mistakes.
How much hours do you spend training per year and what amount of it is orienteering?
- In 2009 (in 10 months) I trained 300 hours. ¼ was orienteering.
Are you satisfy with it?
- No, becouse all the time I thought the number at the end wiill be higher.
You had some problems with ankles. Do you have special training sessions for preventing injuries or do you prevent it by bandgating?
- That is true. I had big problems with my ankles in year 2008 already, this problem was bodering me in the first months of 2009 also . But now I know that with some very simple excercises (standing on tennis ball on one foot) it is possible to do a very cool things. Ankles are now strong again.
As being a member of Slovenian national team, what do you think, what is your main advantage comparing to other nations (mybe good terrains, good conditions for training, strong team spirit…)?
- We have amazing terrains in Slovenia, not only terrains, maps are also very good. It is very cool that Slovenia is so small so if you live in Ljubljana all kind off terrains (karst, snow-free karst, high karst, typical continental,...) are just one hour away. The problem is that we are very small team, so it is maybe stupid to organize many trainings just for two or three guys. But we can be very glad that we have Daniel Leber, he is prepering very good technical trainings. I would like to train in a bigger group to fight for the place in team, to compare with the best. But what can we do, it is as it is, I just have to work...
What is your goal for the future?
- Progress is the most important. To train more and better. EOC in Bulgaria is the main goal of season 2010. WOC 2011 in France is the big goal.
How did winter training period gone for you soo far? Did you changed something comparing to others years or you have same training programme?
- I must say that I am very satisfied with winter trainings so far. I am training more than ever. I am healty and motivated. For now nothing has changed, only quantity.
You have been in Trondheim last year on training camp. Do you think that it is possible to prepare for that type of terrains in Slovenia (or mybe Croatia) or you need to train for it in Norway?
- I am quite sure that it is necessary to go to Trondheim to see what is waiting there.You need a different style of orienteering (also running) up there. But if you know what kind of O-running you need for those terrains it is possible to find some places in Slovenia and Croatia where you can prepare yourself.
Do you think that Slovenia have runnes who could qualify into finals of WOC 2010?
- Yes, at least one.
You compete on Croatia open 2009. What is your impresion of Croatia generaly, and were you satisfy with organization of competition?
- I live near Croatian border so I know Croatia very well. Croatia is beautiful country and I think that you have the most beautiful sea in Europe. There are some really cool terrains in Croatia especially near Delnice. Croatia open is always very nice competition on good maps and interesting terrains. I can't wait to run in Lividraga again, definitely one of my favorite maps.
For you, is there and if yes, which are diferences between Croatian and Slovenian karst?
- In Slovenia we have all kind of karst, like I said highlands karst, snow-free karst, very intrincated karst,...But in Croatia you can also find very nice and difficult karst terrains. For me it is always great fun to run in this kind of terrain.
Finally, what would you say to orienteers which are planing to visit Croatia open? What could they expect?
- They could expect interesting terrains (from continental to very tough karst and even some nice and fast running on the coastline), nice atmosphere and if everything it is going to be as I am planing - me of course ;).
Jaka, thank you very much on your time to answer us on our questions! OK Ris wishes you good season with more good results!
- Thank you and good luck!
Povratak
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