Is There an Optimal Pole Length for Double Poling in Cross Country Skiing?

Onasch, Franziska; Killick, Anthony; Herzog, Walter

doi:10.1123/jab.2016-0071

Cited by 11 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our findings in this particular study are in line with earlier investigations that claimed that longer poles in classic DP of up to ~ 90% of body height reduced the VO 2 -cost [11, 12, 14]. In the present study, the skiers were tested in the G3 ski skating sub-technique, and since it is assumed that performance in DP and G3 are limited by the same physiological and biomechanical factors with respect to at least upper-body work [9, 10], it is reasonable to assume that LP in G3 have the same advantages.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The effect of pole length on physiological and perceptual responses during G3 roller ski skating on uphill terrain

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The benefits of using longer than self-selected poles have been shown in double poling, but these potential benefits have not been examined in the gear 3 ski skating sub-technique (G3), during which the poling movement is very similar to double poling. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of longer than self-selected poles on physiological and perceptual responses in the G3 sub-technique. Ten cross-country skiers and biathletes (VO 2max 72.4 ± 3.0 ml∙min -1 ∙kg -1 , age 20.1 ± 2.8 years, height 1.81 ± 0.03 m and weight 73.1 ± 4.6 kg) completed two tests, each with three different submaximal intensities, during roller skiing using the G3 technique. The first test was carried out at a fixed speed (10 km∙h -1 ) and the skiers performed two intervals of 5 min at 7, 9 and 11% inclination on a roller ski treadmill with self-selected poles (SSP) and 7.5 cm longer poles (LP) at each step. The second test had a fixed inclination of 4% and speeds of 14, 17 and 20 km∙h -1 , also performed with SSP and LP at each step. At fixed speed, the oxygen uptake was 2.7% lower (P = 0.005) and the gross efficiency (GE) 2.1% higher (P = 0.01) with LP than with SSP at the steepest inclination of 11%. At fixed inclination, the oxygen uptake was 2.1% lower (P = 0.01) and the GE was 4.1% higher (P = 0.03) with LP than with SSP at the highest speed of 20 km∙h -1 . At 14 km∙h -1 , the oxygen uptake was 3.0% lower (P = 0.05) and GE was 3.8% higher (P = 0.03) with LP than with SSP. Our novel findings show that longer poles in the G3 technique may enhance the efficiency of skiing.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Previous research has shown the beneficial effects of using longer poles (self-selected + 5–10 cm) in DP [7, 11, 12, 13, 14]. During DP, the force is transferred to the ground via the poles, and pole length seems to have a crucial influence on VO 2 -cost and performance during DP in classic skiing [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of pole length on physiological and perceptual responses during G3 roller ski skating on uphill terrain

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The study demonstrated the relationship between pole length and O 2 -cost, showing that longer poles induced a lower O 2 -cost compared with shorter and self-selected pole lengths. These results are in accordance with Losnegard et al ( 2017 ) and Onasch et al ( 2016 ), and imply that a pole length up to at least ~ 90% of body height reduces the O 2 -cost during DP on a treadmill. Notably, these studies have exclusively tested male skiers, and the influence of pole length on O 2 -cost during DP for female skiers is currently not known.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…During DP, propulsive forces are transferred sorely through the poles, suggesting that pole length is an important parameter for O 2 -cost and performance (Losnegard et al 2017 ). However, previous studies have exclusively investigated the influence of pole length in flat or slightly inclined terrain, i.e., < 2.5° (Hansen and Losnegard 2010 ; Hoffman et al 1994 ; Losnegard et al 2017 ; Nilsson et al 2003 , Onasch et al 2016 ) and little is known about how pole length influences performance or performance-related mechanisms on steeper inclines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pole lengths influence O2-cost during double poling in highly trained cross-country skiers

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeIn elite cross-country skiing, double poling is used in different terrain. This study compared O2-cost and kinematics during double poling with four different pole lengths [self-selected (SS), SS − 5 cm, SS + 5 cm, SS + 10 cm] at Low versus Moderate incline.MethodsThirteen highly trained male cross-country skiers (mean ± SD 23 ± 3 years; 182 ± 4 cm; 77 ± 6 kg) completed eight submaximal trials with roller skis on a treadmill at two conditions: “Low incline” (1.7°; 4.5 m s−1) and “Moderate incline” (4.5°; 2.5 m s−1) with each of the four pole lengths. O2-cost and 3D body kinematics were assessed in each trial.ResultsIn Low incline, SS + 10 cm induced a lower O2-cost than all the other pole lengths [P < 0.05; effect size (ES) 0.5–0.8], whereas no differences were found between the remaining pole lengths (P > 0.05; ES 0.2–0.4). In Moderate incline, significant differences between all pole lengths were found for O2-cost, with SS − 5 cm > SS > SS + 5 cm > SS + 10 cm (P < 0.05; ES 0.6–1.8). The relative differences in O2-cost between SS and the other pole lengths were greater in Moderate incline than Low incline (SS − 5 cm; 1.5%, ES 0.8, SS + 5 cm; 1.3%, ES 1.0, and SS + 10 cm; 1.9%, ES 1.0, all P < 0.05). No difference was found in cycle, poling or reposition times between pole lengths. However, at both conditions a smaller total vertical displacement of center of mass was observed with SS + 10 cm compared to the other pole lengths.ConclusionIncreasing pole length from SS − 5 cm to SS + 10 cm during double poling induced lower O2-cost and this advantage was greater in Moderate compared to Low incline.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00421-017-3767-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

“…Typical modern racing poles can transmit forces as high as 500–800 N ( Swarén et al, 2013b ), a value much higher than that normally applied during poling, but which faster skiers can produce at maximal speed ( Stöggl and Holmberg, 2011 ). A major change here involved lengthening classical skiing poles ( Nilsson et al, 2003 ; Hansen and Losnegard, 2010 ; Stöggl and Karlöf, 2013 ; Losnegard et al, 2017 ), which improved oxygen cost ( Losnegard et al, 2017 ; Onasch et al, 2017 ) and poling mechanics and enhanced peak velocities on both flat and uphill terrain ( Stöggl et al, 2010a ). However, pole length is limited by recent FIS regulations (see further below).…”

Section: Evolution Of Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Pellegrini¹,

Stöggl

Holmberg

2018

Front. Physiol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Is There an Optimal Pole Length for Double Poling in Cross Country Skiing?

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

The effect of pole length on physiological and perceptual responses during G3 roller ski skating on uphill terrain

The effect of pole length on physiological and perceptual responses during G3 roller ski skating on uphill terrain

Pole lengths influence O2-cost during double poling in highly trained cross-country skiers

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

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About