This study investigated the evolution of skiing velocity, cycle length, and cycle rate in elite and subelite skiers during cross-country ski races. Senior male cross-country skiers engaged respectively in a 30-km skating race (N = 34) or a 50-km classical race (N = 27) were videotaped as they skied two different sections of 30 m, a 7 degrees uphill, and a flat section. In the skating race, most skiers used the offset technique on uphill and the 2-skate on flat, while the preferred techniques during the classical race were the diagonal stride for uphill and double-poling on flat. Results demonstrated that faster skiers had longer cycle lengths than slower skiers except for the flat sections of the classical race. Cycle rate was not different between skiers of different performance levels in any circumstances or races. Decreased velocity observed during the second half of the skating race was almost entirely due to a decrease in cycle length. We conclude that slower athletes should emphasize extending cycle length during their technical training. Therefore, skiers should place an emphasis on strength and power training to increase their kick and pole pushes and enhance cycle length.

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The purpose of this study was to compare the heart rate responses and the speed of three different skating techniques and the diagonal stride in cross-country skiing. The subjects were ten elite male cross-country ski racers, 16 to 25 years of age. They skied a 3.04-km loop of various terrain four separate times, using a different technique for each trial. A thirty-minute recovery period was allowed between each trial. Heart rate and skiing velocities were analyzed over a flat, an uphill, and a downhill section, as well as for the total loop. No significant differences (p greater than 0.05) were found in heart rate values between the four techniques on all sections of the course, while heart rates were significantly different over the three different sections. Skiing velocities were significantly different (p less than 0.05) between the diagonal stride and all skating techniques, the diagonal stride being the slowest technique, and this, for all sections. Energy costs while skiing were estimated on the basis of individual HR/VO2 curve determined under laboratory conditions. Since no differences in HR were found between the four techniques, no differences in energy costs were found. These energy costs represented between 69 and 73% of max VO2, and between 87 and 89% of max HR for the 3.04-km loop. Thus, for the same estimated energy expenditure, greater speeds (16%) were achieved with the skating techniques than with the diagonal stride.

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