Stronger Is Better: The Impact of Upper Body Strength in Double Poling Performance

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to compare time results from a roller-skiing double poling (DP) time trial with different physiological variables, muscular strength variables, and DP characteristics in both male and female young competitive skiers with the same relative training background. In order to do this, 28 (16 women and 12 men) well-trained 16–25-year-old cross-country skiers from three Norwegian high schools for skiers, as well as local high performance competitive skiers from the South-East of Norway were recruited to participate in the study. All participants were tested for; maximal oxygen uptake in running, Peak oxygen uptake in DP, lactate threshold in DP, DP economy, time to voluntary exhaustion in DP, force analyses in DP, one repetition maximum and power output in pulldown, and leg press and a time trial during DP roller skiing. The results expressed strong correlations between roller skiing time trial performance and maximal strength in pull-down, both independent ( r xy = −0.83, p < 0.01) and dependent ( r xy–z = −0.50, p < 0.02) of sex. Higher maximal upper body strength was related to higher DP peak forces (PF) ( r xy = 0.78, p < 0.02), lower DP frequency ( r xy = −0.71, p < 0.01), and shorter DP contact time (CT) ( r xy = −0.48, p < 0.02). The practical implications of the present study is to acknowledge maximal upper body strength as a performance determining factor in DP. This point at the importance of including maximal strength training in cross-country skiers training programs.

No Change – No Gain; The Effect of Age, Sex, Selected Genes and Training on Physiological and Performance Adaptations in Cross-Country Skiing

“…This warm-up was registered and repeated at POST1 and POST2. The RUN-VO 2max test was conducted by the same procedures as presented in Sunde et al (2019). Briefly, the participants started at an intensity of 6% inclination and 7-8 km • h −1 and 9-10 km • h −1 for female and male, respectively.…”

“…After at least 1 h of rest, a 5.64 km TT DP test was performed in a paved roller ski course track of 940 m. The TT procedures have been previously presented in Sunde et al (2019). Only the DP technique was allowed throughout the test.…”

“…Differences in temperature and humidity may influence the rolling resistance of the roller skis, and thus the results of this test. Therefore, we used the same procedures for calculating a correction factor described previously in Sunde et al (2019).…”

“…Cross-country skiing is regarded as one of the most demanding aerobic endurance sports, where male and female athletes have displayed some of the highest maximal oxygen uptakes (VO 2max ) ever recorded (Sandbakk and Holmberg, 2017). VO 2max , often measured in running (RUN-VO 2max ), is suggested as a main predictor for cross-country skiing and overall endurance performance (Pate and Kriska, 1984;Ingjer, 1991;di Prampero, 2003;Støren et al, 2013;Sandbakk and Holmberg, 2017;Sunde et al, 2019;Johansen et al, 2020). However, in cases where RUN-VO 2max is relatively homogenous or held constant, differences in work economy (C) (Conley and Krahenbuhl, 1980;di Prampero, 2003) and/or maximal strength (Hoff et al, 2002;Støren et al, 2008;Sunde et al, 2010Sunde et al, , 2019 are regarded as major contributors for differentiating performance in endurance athletes.…”

“…Sex differences in performance determining factors in crosscountry skiing is generally reported to be between 10 and 30%, where greater sex differences are shown when the upperbody is used more extensively (Sandbakk et al, 2014;Hegge et al, 2016;Sunde et al, 2019). Sex differences have been examined in recent years among cross-country skiers, however, sex comparisons in training responses to a similar training regimen is not well examined in well-trained cross-country skiers.…”