In biathlon many factors can have influence on the shooting result. The main variables are considered as: Shooting position, targeting, breathing technique and triggering (Nitzsche 1998). In comparison to rifle shooting the high physical pre-intensity, the short shooting time and the stance on the skies decrease the shooting results in biathlon (Grebot et al. 2003, Larue et al. 1989). According to Nitzsche (1998) at least 70-80 percent of the total trigger-force within the last second should be achieved. The aim of this study was to analyze the performance determining factors in biathlon shooting with and without physical load. Therefore 10 elite biathletes of the Austrian National (29 61617; 4 yr) and Junior-National-Team (18 61617; 2 yr) were tested outdoors (roller ski track) several times on a biomechanical shooting measure station, consisting of: 1) Force plate (FiTRO Sway Check, SVK) for stance stability, 2) Strain gauge force transducer at the trigger (Spe-zialmesstechnik Ilmenau, GER), 3) Computer controlled display for the shooting results (SA 921 - Sius Ascor, GER). The data were processed by iSportmanager- Biathlon (Ike-Software, AUT). As variables the mean preshot trigger force (TF) over one second before the shot [in % of the maximum force], the deviation of the standing position [mm] in x-(cross shooting) direction (Xdev) and ydirection (in shooting course) (Ydev), the path length [mm2] (PL) on the force plate and the shooting results (1-10) (Score) were measured in different situations (all 4 series of 5 shots): 1) without physical load (WL), 2) base speed (BS) [1.5-2 mmol La/l], 3) sub lactate threshold speed (SL) [3-4 mmol La/l], 4) 15 km race speed (RS) [5-6 mmol La/l]. Although the values of two variables (PL, Ydev) changed in dependence to the intensity, only Xdev-WL (r -773, p < 0,01) and Ydev-WL (r -0,637, p < 0,05) showed low correlations for the situations without physical load. For the 3 situations with physical load no relationships be-tween shooting results and analyzed parameters could be found. Only the PLBS (r -0,621, p 0,055) and PLSL (r -0,555, p 0,96) showed at least a tendency to have influence on the shoot-ing performance. The comparison of the five best and worst biathletes (factor: shooting re-sults) illustrated no significant differences within the analyzed variables. One reason for the inexistent or low influence of the analyzed variables on the shooting per-formance could be the high level of all tested athletes. As Sattlecker (2006) stated, profes-sional biathletes seem to have their own optimum shooting pattern, in which the shooting re-sults are stabile. Although the values of two parameters in our survey changed significantly due to different intensities, the shooting results did not change significantly. Higher intensities and longer distances could break the patterns named above and show other results. Another possibility is the analysis of other determining factors like breathing technique or upper body work while targeting.
© Copyright 2007 12th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Jyväskylä, Finland - July 11-14th 2007. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.