How Do World-Class Nordic Combined Athletes Differ From Specialized Cross-Country Skiers and Ski Jumpers in Sport-Specific Capacity and Training Characteristics?

Abstract

To simultaneously optimize endurance, explosive, and technical capacities in 2 different disciplines, world-class NC athletes train approximately two-thirds of the XC skier's endurance training volume and perform one-half of the ski-jump-specific training compared with SJ. Still, the various laboratory capacities differed only 10-17% compared with SJ and XC skiers.

Association between laboratory capacities and world-cup performance in Nordic combined

“…Respiratory variables were measured using open-circuit indirect calorimetry (Oxycon Pro, Jaeger GmbH, Hoechberg, Germany) with calibration procedures presented previously [8]. Heart rate was continuously measured with a Polar V800 monitor (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) and synchronized with the Oxycon Pro measurement system.…”

“…The SQJ was performed from a stationary squat position with the hands located on the iliac crest throughout the jump, as described in a previous study [24]. The IMIT was performed from the athletes’ individually chosen ski jump position, and after maintaining this position in a static fashion for at least one second the athletes aimed to maximize their vertical lift but simultaneously gain sufficient angular momentum in order to end up in a flight-phase position to be caught by their coach, as described in a previous study [8]. The concentric push-off phase was defined as the time period of upward movement.…”

“…Gas exchange and heart rate were determined by the average of the last minute, and blood lactate concentration was measured directly after completion. Power output was calculated as the sum of power against gravity and friction as described previously [8]. The metabolic rate was calculated from and , as the product of and the oxygen energetic equivalent using the associated respiratory exchange ratio and standard conversion tables [25].…”

“…In successful ski jumpers, a high vertical jump ability and a low body-mass are well-established characteristics [1, 2, 6, 7]. These characteristics also differentiates NC athletes from specialist ski jumpers [8, 9]. However, no research to date have investigated associations between sport-specific laboratory capacities and field performance in SJ among NC athletes that concurrently develop their aerobic capacity and upper-body power.…”

“…The significance of these factors for performance in NC events, however, has not been investigated. Since NC athletes may compensate lower XC skiing level with better SJ performance, they present a more heterogeneous group of endurance athletes than XC skiers [8]. …”