A Pilot Study on How Do Elite Surfski Padllers Manage Their Effort and Hydration Pattern in the Heat

Abstract

To investigate thermal response, hydration behaviour and performance over flatwater kayaking races in tropical conditions (36.8°C and 68% rh). Five internationally-ranked subjects participated in the 2012 Surfski Ocean Racing World Cup in Guadeloupe to the “Ze Caribbean Race 2012” [i.e., a 35-km downwind race]. Core temperature (T°C) and heart rate (HR) were measured using portable telemetry units whereas water intake was deduced from backpacks absorption. The kayakers were asked to rate both their comfort sensation and thermal sensation on a scale before and after the race. The performance was related to an increase in T°C, high HR and low water intake (WI); and (2) high values of final T°C were related to high pre T°C and greater increases in T°C being obtained with low pre T°C and (3) WI being related to high pre T°C. The present study demonstrated that the fastest kayakers were those able to paddle at the highest intensities, increasing their T°C and drinking little water without any interference from thermal sensations. Water intake was positively related to pre-race T°C, which reinforces the importance of beginning surfski races with a low T°C. This study demonstrated that well-trained kayakers drinking ad libitum were able to anticipate their intensity/heat storage ratio to prevent heat illness and severe dehydration and maintain high performance.

Self-hydration and thermoregulatory processes of average-level paddlers during international surfski events in a tropical climate

“…However, we did not demonstrate any correlation between the delta T c and the performance in the present paddlers, whereas we recently demonstrated that the IRP with the greatest increases in T c were the fastest during a 35-km race [9]. …”

“…The performance expressed in relative units was not different from the performance noted in our previous study [ 9 ], indicating that ARP are paddling at a pace similar to the one used by IRP during a 35-km race. Similar mean HR was also observed between races.…”

“…Recently [ 9 ] we demonstrated that internationally ranked paddlers (IRP) performing a long-distance world-class event (i.e., more than 2 hours) in a tropical climate were able to increase their T c and drink little water without any interference from thermal sensations, the better paddlers increasing more their T c and drinking less. This phenomenon, well known in high-level runners (e.g., Olympic athletes [ 10 ]), needs to be confirmed in basically to well-trained paddlers to give some guidelines to ensure safe and efficient surfski paddling in tropical conditions.…”

Menthol as an Adjuvant to Help Athletes Cope With a Tropical Climate: Tracks From Heat Experiments With Special Focus on Guadeloupe Investigations

“…In their meta-analysis, Wegmann et al (2012) reported that pre-exercise immersion provided the best performances in situations of high thermal stress (high ambient temperature and/or long-duration exercise; Duffield and Marino, 2007). This was supported by our findings that the performances in tropical climate of both elite and average-level paddlers (Hue et al, 2014) were related to the increase in core temperature and that pre-race and end-race core temperatures were positively correlated, reinforcing the importance of beginning competition with a lower body temperature. The relationship between core temperature increase and performance was partially corroborated during a long trail race (Baillot et al, 2014) in which the best performers finished with the higher core temperatures.…”

“…The critical core temperature is dependent on factors (González-Alonso et al, 2008) like age, sex, hydration status, and most importantly training status and motivation. Baillot et al (2014) demonstrated that better trailers finished with higher water losses and core temperatures, and this was corroborated in high-level paddlers (Hue et al, 2014). Impaired thermoregulation processes after menthol + water immersion were noted by Rinaldi et al (2018).…”