Energy system contributions and determinants of performance in sprint cross‐country skiing

Abstract

To improve current understanding of energy contributions and determinants of sprint-skiing performance, 11 well-trained male cross-country skiers were tested in the laboratory for VO , submaximal gross efficiency (GE), maximal roller skiing velocity, and sprint time-trial (STT) performance. The STT was repeated four times on a 1300-m simulated sprint course including three flat (1°) double poling (DP) sections interspersed with two uphill (7°) diagonal stride (DS) sections. Treadmill velocity and VO were monitored continuously during the four STTs and data were averaged. Supramaximal GE during the STT was predicted from the submaximal relationships for GE against velocity and incline, allowing computation of metabolic rate and O deficit. The skiers completed the STT in 232 ± 10 s (distributed as 55 ± 3% DP and 45 ± 3% DS) with a mean power output of 324 ± 26 W. The anaerobic energy contribution was 18 ± 5%, with an accumulated O deficit of 45 ± 13 mL/kg. Block-wise multiple regression revealed that VO , O deficit, and GE explained 30%, 15%, and 53% of the variance in STT time, respectively (all P < 0.05). This novel GE-based method of estimating the O deficit in simulated sprint-skiing has demonstrated an anaerobic energy contribution of 18%, with GE being the strongest predictor of performance.

Comparison of Power Output Estimates in Treadmill Roller-Skiing

“…The experimental procedures and physiological data of the current paper originate from a previous study by Andersson et al [7]. A Swedish male cross-country skier (age: 20 years, height: 173 cm, body mass: 73.7 kg, equipment mass: 3.6 kg) was randomly selected from the data set.…”

“…A Swedish male cross-country skier (age: 20 years, height: 173 cm, body mass: 73.7 kg, equipment mass: 3.6 kg) was randomly selected from the data set. All performance tests were conducted on a motor-driven treadmill designed for roller skiing (Rodby Innovation AB, Vänge, Sweden) according to Andersson et al [7]. Respiratory variables were measured using an AMIS 2001 (Innovision A/S, Odense, Denmark) ergospirometry system.…”

“…However, it has been shown that anaerobic processes contribute substantially [7,8] during sprint races (3-4 min) and may be highly important for performance on variable terrain [7]. Nevertheless, indirect assessments of the anaerobic energetic component during whole-body exercise is associated with some difficulties [9].…”

“…Energy generation trough aerobic processes is considered the most important component to endurance performance [7]. However, it has been shown that anaerobic processes contribute substantially [7,8] during sprint races (3-4 min) and may be highly important for performance on variable terrain [7].…”

“…The anaerobic energetic component during supramaximal roller-skiing can be estimated in several different ways [7,8], either by using the maximal accumulated oxygen deficit method [9] or a method based on gross efficiency [7]. A main problem with all previous methods employed for roller-skiing is that they have excluded the influence of instantaneous changes in inertia on the power output estimates during self-paced, timetrial roller-skiing [7,8]. No study has, to our knowledge, compared different power estimates and their corresponding anaerobic energetic components during supramaximal roller-skiing.…”