Meeting with Jules Chappaz, professional cross-country skier

"I like Authentic Nutrition products because they provide me with everything I need during my training sessions and competitions, with a delicate, not-too-sweet flavor, and especially products that are very easy to digest. My favorite product is Authentic Booster+ lemon/lime; it accompanies me on almost all my sessions and helps me avoid hypoglycemia."

Can you tell us about your sport, cross-country skiing?

It's a sport that combines gliding and endurance. It's obviously practiced on snow, mostly on groomed trails.
It complements running and cycling.
It's an easily accessible sport as it requires little equipment and no ski lifts!
For my part, I do both classic skiing and skating, sprint and distance.

What do you particularly enjoy about this discipline?

The atmosphere, the snow, practicing outdoors amidst beautiful landscapes. And also the mix between performance and gliding.
What I particularly like about high-level practice is the large volume of training it requires.

What circuits do you compete in?

I am part of the French cross-country skiing team, within the "World Cup Sprint" group (6 members).
I compete on the European Cup circuit, whose events take place over 6 weekends per season (with 3 races each time). I also participate in the Junior World Championships - U23.

What were your results last season? And your ambitions for this new season?

My 2020/2021 season was interrupted from mid-January to mid-March due to mononucleosis, then an injury in June 2021. I still managed a Top 20 in the World Cup in Davos in sprint and was vice-champion of France in sprint.

For this new season, I want to regain a good level of skiing and I hope to get a podium at the U23 World Championships in February in Norway. It will be the last time I can participate!

In the medium term, I want to be as high-performing as possible on the European Cup circuit to reach the World Cups and the Olympics. To participate in the Olympics, you have to be as high-performing as possible in the World Cup, meaning among the top 8-9 French athletes.

What is your training routine?

I don't really have a routine. Generally, every day, I do twice-daily training, meaning one session in the morning and one in the afternoon. I alternate between intense sessions (rather in the morning), strength training, skiing, and running.
I have 10 days of training camp per month with the French team. The rest of the time, I train solo or with the La Clusaz Club.
While waiting for real snowfall, I was able to train in Davos, on a 7km snow-farming track, and also on the one in La Clusaz.

In spring and summer, I practice running, cycling, and a lot of roller skiing.

My weekly training ranges from 10 to 25 hours, for an annual volume of 850 hours over 11 months.

How do you manage nutrition during training and competition?

I consume the Authentic Booster+ effort drink once a day, preferably during the morning session, which is the longest of the day, regardless of the sport practiced.

In competition, I often eat half a Flapjack between the qualifications and the final phase. I eat another half at the end of the competition to replenish my reserves.

In sprint events, I don't consume drinks – except between heats. In long-distance events, I prepare my own supplies: effort drink and diluted fluid gel.

I consume Authentic Fluid Gel on very long bike rides.

Any advice for young people who would like to start cross-country skiing?

Don't hesitate to take the plunge! It's a great discipline, you get fresh air, and you exert yourself physically in a beautiful landscape.

Are you studying alongside your sports career?

Yes, I am a STAPS student in Grenoble. I benefit from a special arrangement for high-level athletes: 6 weeks of classes in spring and some homework.

Interview conducted by Aurélie Joubin on November 16, 2021