Effects of physique and fitness on performance of each event in elite alpine skier

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association and the effect of physique and physical fitness factors on the different event of alpine ski performance. 18 male skiers in the national team participated in this study. The measurement factors for physique were height, weight, body composition, and circumferences of arm, thigh, calf, and chest. Physical fitness were flexibility(sit & reach), speed(50m run), power(basketball throw, long jump), strength(back strength), balance(one leg stand with eye closed), agility(reaction time; light/sound), muscular endurance(sit up, push-up, half squat jump), isometric strength(bench press, squat), isokinetic knee strength, and aerobic ability(graded exercise test on treadmill). Pearson r correlation and stepwise multiple regression was used to analyze the data. As a result, slalom performance had association with %body fat(p=.028), circumference of left(p=.032) and right(p=.029) arm, left(p=.038) and right(p=.028) thigh, and chest(p=.041), sit and reach(p=.030), basketball throw(p=.009), long jump(p=.016), one leg stand with eye closed(p=.014), reaction time(light)(p=.029), pushup(p=.016), peak torque of right knee extensor(p=.020), right ipsilateral balance(p=.030). However, balance(p=.012), both leg isokinetic knee peak torque(p=.003, .000), and agility(p=.000) affect most to the performance. Giant slalom performance had association with half squat jump(p=.033), bench press 1RM(p=.005), peak torque of left knee extensor(p=.037). But leg muscular endurance(p=.010) and bilateral balance of knee(p=.005) were the effective factors on performance. Super giant slalom performance had association with left ipsilateral balance(p=.047) and heart rate at anaerobic threshold(p=.020). However only bilateral balance of knee(p=.040) turned out to be an effective factor on performance. As different fitness factors were either correlate or effective on performance of each event, specific and various conditioning training should be applied according to the event and fitness component.