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

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of prolonged ski racing using skating style on technique choice in a transition section among female and male high-level skiers. Fifty three national-to-elite level skiers (20 females: 26.7 ± 4.8 years, 167.0 ± 6.5 m, 61.0 ± 5.1 kg, and 75.5 ± 68.8 FIS points; 33 males: 25.2 ± 3.5 years, 179.0 ± 5.2 cm, 73.1 ± 5.7 kg, and 73.7 ± 63.2 FIS points) were video recorded along a flat-to-uphill transition section of a course during the 30-km (females) and 50-km (males) races at the 2018 Norwegian National Championships. Across laps, section speeds decreased ( P < 0.001) in all skiers, with the best-ranked skiers faster than the lowest-ranked ( P < 0.001), and males faster than females in the first and middle laps. Section speed within each lap was associated with race performance ( r = 0.76–0.86, P < 0.001 in females and r = 0.87–0.89, P < 0.001 in males). The prevalence of Gear 2 (G2) increased, while Gear 3 (G3) use decreased (both P < 0.001) across the subsequent laps, with females preferring G2 more than males in lap one ( P = 0.027). In long-distance skate-style skiing, transition performance is representative of race performance and skiers decrease the use of the often-faster G3 technique while increasing the use of the slower G2 technique due to prolonged exercise. Especially female skiers should consider adding some flat-to-uphill G3 practice into established training, specifically early in the session before fatigue may occur.

Performance and Micro-Pacing Strategies in a Freestyle Cross-Country Skiing Distance Race

“…These findings might reflect different micro-pacing strategies adopted between sexes, as well as different relative strengths in women and men. Sex differences in the fastest vs. slowest skier might be explained by variations in skiing speed during transitional periods between flat and uphill sections (Ardigò et al, 2020 ). Although the FIS points were similar between sexes in the present study, there was a greater variation in the male athletes, which might explain why larger time differences were observed in this cohort.…”

“…It has been suggested that pacing strategies in XC skiing might vary depending on sex (Losnegard et al, 2016 ; Andersson et al, 2019 ; Ardigò et al, 2020 ), skiing technique (Stöggl et al, 2018 ; Ardigò et al, 2020 ) and competition distance (Losnegard et al, 2016 ). For instance, men tend to ski with a greater relative power output during uphill sections compared to women (Andersson et al, 2019 ).…”

“…For instance, men tend to ski with a greater relative power output during uphill sections compared to women (Andersson et al, 2019 ). Additionally, men tend to ski faster particularly during transition periods between flat and uphill sections compared to women (Ardigò et al, 2020 ). Further, Losnegard et al ( 2016 ) observed that both women and men adopted positive lap-to-lap pacing strategies during skating and classical technique competitions (i.e., faster initial laps compared to later laps).…”