INTRODUCTION: Studies examining the physical determinants of alpine skiing performance have reported contradictory or inconsistent results. The aim of the present study was to identify the physical characteristics that can discriminate the competitive level and the specialty of alpine skiers using a multivariate approach. METHOD: Thirty-four male alpine skiers competing for the Italian National Team during the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 seasons were involved in the study. Skiers were classified in two specialty groups [DH/SG(n=17), and SL/GS (n=17)] or in two competitive level groups [Group 1, <15 in the FIS WC ranking (n=8); Group 26, >15 FIS ranking (n=2)]. For each skier, the lest completed 3 months before the best FIS rank was selected for the analysis. After data reduction a discriminant analysis was computed including the following variables: age, body mass, height, body fat, maximum oxygen uptake, mean height during 45 s vertical countermovement Jumps, vertical Jump height and peak force, isokinetic eccentric strength of knee extensors and flexors. RESULTS: No difference between competitive level groups were found. The discriminant function obtained did not reach the significance {Wilks' Lambda=0.78; Chi-square=16.70; df=10; P=0.75) indicating no significant difference between group centroids. However, significant or close to significance differences between the specialty groups were found for body mass (P<0.001), height (P=0.026), body fat (P=0.084), 45-s vertical Jumps (P=0.025), peak force in vertical jump (P=0.015), knee extensors (P=0.012) and flexors (P=0.074) isokinetic eccentric strength. The discriminant function was significant (Wilks' Lambda=0.42; Chi-square=23.66; df=10; P=0.009). DISCUSSION: The present study showed that the selected physical and anthropometric characteristics did not clearly discriminate the competitive levels of alpine skiers. Given the multifactorial nature of the sport, the identification of the physiological determinants of alpine skiing performance is complex and probably requires studies with higher statistical power (use of more predictive variables and greater sample sizes). On the other hand, different anthropometric and physical profiles were found between specialty groups. DH/SG were heavier (10.%) and taller (2.4%) than SL/GS, but with lower physical capacities (-7 to -14%) when expressed relative to body mass. CONCLUSION: This study failed to identify the physical determinants of alpine skiing performance and specialty. Therefore, based on the present findings and the inconsistent results already reported in the literature, it is not possible to establish the most important physiological components for alpine ski performance on which focus the physical training. According to Andersen and Montgomery (1988), dryland training should enhance several physical capacities such as aerobic and anaerobic fitness, strength, balance, agility, etc. The different physiological profile between specialty groups suggests different physical requirements during the competitions and deserves further investigation.
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