Developments in the Biomechanics and Equipment of Olympic Cross-Country Skiers

Abstract

Here, our aim was to describe the major changes in cross-country (XC) skiing in recent decades, as well as potential future developments. XC skiing has been an Olympic event since the very first Winter Games in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Over the past decades, considerable developments in skiing techniques and improvements in equipment and track preparation have increased skiing speed. In contrast to the numerous investigations on the physiological determinants of successful performance, key biomechanical factors have been less explored. Today’s XC skier must master a wide range of speeds, terrains, and race distances and formats (e.g., distance races with individual start, mass-start or pursuit; knock-out and team-sprint; relays), continuously adapting by alternating between various sub-techniques. Moreover, several of the new events in which skiers compete head-to-head favor technical and tactical flexibility and encourage high-speed techniques (including more rapid development of propulsive force and higher peak forces), as well as appropriate training. Moreover, the trends toward more extensive use of double poling and skiing without grip wax in classical races have given rise to regulations in connection with Olympic distances that appear to have preserved utilization of the traditional classical sub-techniques. In conclusion, although both XC equipment and biomechanics have developed significantly in recent decades, there is clearly room for further improvement. In this context as well, for analyzing performance and optimizing training, sensor technology has a potentially important role to play.

Comparison of Exclusive Double Poling to Classic Techniques of Cross-country Skiing

“…Possibly, in the near future, a smart ski might be developed that automatically changes stiffness properties according to the skiing style applied (e.g., stiffer during DP and softer during DIA). From the perspective of skiing technique, the development of new strategies like the “Klaebo” or “running diagonal stride” technique ( 5 , 21 ) might reduce the amount of grip-wax required to achieve adequate grip on uphill sections and thereby improved glide on other portions of the course (e.g., DP sections, downhill sections, and curves).…”

The Development and Precision of a Custom-Made Skitester

“…Equipment plays an important role in cross-country skiing because ski glide directly influences the finishing time of the skier (Moxnes et al, 2014;Pellegrini et al, 2018). To improve ski performance, national teams use a significant part of their budgets to develop and test methods to improve the performance of skis.…”

Ski Skating Race Technique—Effect of Long Distance Cross-Country Ski Racing on Choice of Skating Technique in Moderate Uphill Terrain

“…elite skiers preferred G2 less than national, albeit not significantly (Table 2, Figure 4). A further relevant difference is that the current 2018 skiers and equipment were probably better than those of Bilodeau et al (1996) and Pellegrini et al (2018). Regarding sex differences, the above hypothesized females' potential speed improvement margin in flat-to-uphill skating might be achieved by training to extend CL and to prefer G3 to G2 especially when rested (i.e., at the beginning of the training session).…”

“…Skiers were investigated along two 30 m sections, 7° steep and flat, per lap and therefore only twice per incline over the whole race. However 25 years ago, skiers and equipment were generally quite different from today (Holmberg, 2015 ; Pellegrini et al, 2018 ).…”