INTRODUCTION: It has been shown that a group of world class skiers on average have lower cycle rate (i.e. longer cycle length), higher maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and better work economy (WE) than a group of national skiers (Sandbakk et al. 2010). However, in both performance groups, there was a large inter individual variation in WE as well as cycle rate. Hence, we wanted to investigate if there is a relationship between WE and cycle rate or other pole cycle characteristics in a homogeneous group of elite cross-country skiers. METHODS: Fifteen elite senior male cross-country skiers (23.9 ± 3.0 yrs, 181.5 ± 5.1 cm, 75.5 ± 7.4 kg, V2 ski skating VO2max: 76.3 ± 3.1 ml.kg-1.min-1 or 5.74 ± 0.45 L.min-1) participated in the study. Four submaximal trials (3.5-5.0° at 3.0 m/s) and a 1000 m performance test (6°) were performed with V2 skating technique on a large treadmill. Cycle time (CT), cycle rate (CR=1/CT), cycle length (CL), poling length (PL) and recovery length (RL) were calculated based on treadmill speed and data from accelerometers mounted on the poles during all tests. Submaximal cycle variables and WE (individual O2-cost normalized for body weight) were calculated as an average value of the four submaximal trials. At the performance test the skiers should complete 1000 m (6.0°) as fast as possible (3.25 m/s the first 100m, 3.5 m/s the next 100m and thereafter self selected speed from 200-1000 m). Cycle variables over the 100 m at 3.5 m/s during the performance test were calculated. Performance was calculated as average speed in the performance test (200-1000 m). SPSS was used to detect significant Pearson's Product Moment Correlations (p<0.05). RESULTS/DISCUSSION: There was no correlation between CR and WE. However, WE correlated significantly with PL (r= -.59). This correlation was even stronger when PL was calculated from the performance test (r= -.81). The subjects in the present study have been tested twice this year and these relationships were found at both tests. Hence, we suggest that PL might be an individual technique variable important for WE in elite cross-country skiers. Theoretically PL can be altered by different strategies like changes in the upper body involvement, stretching of the arms, pole angle at pole plant and pole length. We did not find any significant correlation between performance and the variables VO2max, CT/CR, CL or WE achieved at the submaximal loads. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that PL is an important factor for WE in V2 ski skating technique for this homogeneous group of elite cross-country skiers.
© Copyright 2010 Book of Abstracts. 5th International Congress on Science and Skiing, Dec. 14 - 19, 2010, St. Christoph am Arlberg. Veröffentlicht von University of Salzburg, Interfakultärer Fachbereich Sport- und Bewegungswissenschaft/USI. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.