A Comparison of Three Skating Techniques and the Diagonal Stride on Heart Rate Responses and Speed in Cross-Country Skiing

Abstract

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.

Ski skating technique and physiological responses across slopes and speeds

“…From the regression equations, the horizontal intercepts were determined. These ''crossover points'' at 4-5 degrees, separate where it was relatively advantageous to use V2 from slopes where it was advantageous to use V1 skating technique skating technique comparisons of physiological responses (e.g., Bilodeau et al 1991;Boulay et al 1994;Millet et al 2003). Thus, little evidence exists providing a physiological basis for technique selection for skating on diverse terrain.…”

“…One previous investigation (Bilodeau et al 1991) compared HR response and skiing speed between V1, V2, and V2A skating techniques on snow with elite skiers at race speed around a 3-km track of varying terrain. No significant differences were found in HR values and velocities between the skating techniques on any sections of the course.…”

“…A rapid evolution occurred when the ''free style technique'' became a formal component of cross-country racing in 1985. Ski skating was primarily introduced due to the greater speed that was attainable with an advantage estimated to be as much as 20% faster than classical technique (Karvonen et al 1987(Karvonen et al , 1989Bilodeau et al 1991). For ski racers, speed and economy are major centers of attention which integrate physiological, mechanical and technical, factors.…”

External loading does not change energy cost and mechanics of rollerski skating

“…To the best of our knowledge, no other study has examined the energy cost of ski or RSS using the V2A technique. However, C s in the three principal skating techniques (V1 skate, V2 skate and V2A) has been indirectly determined from heart rate measurements (Bilodeau et al 1991) and has not been found to be dierent among the three techniques. Thus, it was worth comparing our data with previous C s established in ski skating.…”

Nota Editorial: 40 anos de construção de uma Escola — reconhecimento de um labor. Em homenagem ao Professor Jorge Bento

“…In the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, cross-country skiing was performed for the first time distinguishing between two distinct techniques, the classic technique and the free (or skating) technique. The skating technique is much faster than the classic technique, or, for a given speed of skiing, requires less energy and is less tiring, than the classic technique 8 . Nevertheless, this technique was not invented or inspired by biomechanics research, but was developed over decades by a variety of skiing pioneers.…”