Harald Østberg Amundsen is concerned about what he sees among young skiers – and gets support from a former national team coach.

The 2023/2024 World Cup winner has noticed an increasing use of training technology. Now, Amundsen warns against letting gadgets control training and life.

More and more gadgets

Amundsen himself uses both a GPS watch and a training ring. He started with the ring this summer, inspired by his new national team teammate Jan Thomas Jenssen.

Also Read: Norwegian men’s national team for 2025/2026

The ring Amundsen wears on his index finger measures heart rate, body temperature, activity, and sleep. The manufacturer claims that 88 percent of users experience better health from wearing it.

“Resting heart rate and the muscular feeling I have in training give me an indication of how long I should push a training block and when I should rest. Especially now with higher training volumes than before,” the 27-year-old told TV 2.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has been seen wearing a “Whoop” band. It functions much like Amundsen’s and Jenssen’s rings but provides more detailed data and analysis. Klæbo uses the information to optimize everything in his search for small margins.

Others have even tested glasses that project similar data onto a display inside the lens.

Read More: Smart technology in ski races

Skeptical of the development

Amundsen is quick to underline that what he and his teammates are doing is not directly transferable to everyone else.

“I’m a professional athlete. It’s my job to test things, dig into the details, and be precise.”

When it comes to recreational skiers and younger athletes, however, Amundsen is more skeptical.

He has noticed that interest in these products has skyrocketed – and warns against letting gadgets and apps dictate life and training. He has seen several cases where people lose perspective.

“I think it’s really important, especially for younger athletes, not to get hung up on tiny details,” he says.

“People ask me about training, and it goes all the way down to micro-details. But in my mind, if you’re a recreational skier, the most important thing is to get in a couple of quality sessions per week. Mix in a long workout, some intervals, a few easy sessions, and a strength workout – that’s the key to getting fitter.”

Technology is given too much weight

Amundsen isn’t alone in warning against letting training technology control everyday life.

Former national team coach Geir Endre Rogn sees many athletes putting too much emphasis on numbers and devices in intensity control.

He points out that athletes at all levels – including youth, juniors, recreational skiers, and professionals – tend to become overly focused on heart rate monitors and lactate measurements.

“Speed and feeling are much more relevant factors than heart rate when it comes to managing session intensity,” says Rogn, who now runs training guidance through his company Topptrent.com.

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