Technical determinants of biathlon standing shooting performance before and after race simulation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify performance-determining factors in biathlon standing shooting in rest and after intense exercise. Eight Finnish national- and nine junior-team biathletes participated in the study. Participants fired 40 resting shots (REST) and 2 × 5 competition simulation shots (LOAD) after 5 minutes of roller skiing at 95% of peak heart rate. Hit percentage, aiming point trajectory and postural balance were measured from each shot. Cleanness of triggering (ATV, movement of the aiming point 0-0.2 second before the shot) and vertical stability of hold (DevY) were the most important components affecting shooting performance both in REST (DevY, R = -0.61, P < .01; ATV, R = -0.65, P < .01) and in LOAD (DevY, R = -0.50, P < .05; ATV, R = -0.77, P < .001). Postural balance, especially in shooting direction, was related to DevY and ATV. Stability of hold in horizontal (F(1,15) = 7.025, P < .05) and vertical (F(1,15) = 21.285, P < .001) directions, aiming accuracy (F(1,15) = 9.060, P < .01), and cleanness of triggering (F(1,15) = 59.584, P < .001) decreased from REST to LOAD, accompanied by a decrease in postural balance. National- and junior-team biathletes differed only in hit percentage in REST (92 ± 8% vs 81 ± 8%, P < .05) and left leg postural balance in shooting direction in LOAD (0.31 ± 0.18 mm vs 0.52 ± 0.20 mm, P < .05), and the intense exercise affected the shooting technical components similarly in both national and junior groups. Biathletes should focus on cleanness of triggering and vertical stability of hold in order to improve biathlon standing shooting performance. More stable postural balance in shooting direction could help to improve these shooting technical components.

Dynamic rifle stability is not influenced by exercise intensity in young biathletes

“…Moreover, in the descriptive results it is possible to notice the fact that increasing intensity of the physical load corresponds with increased movement of the rifle, respectively worse rifle stability. Consequently, the increased heart rate correlates with worse targeting stability as has been confirmed in previous researches of several authors (Gallicchio et al, 2018;Haug, 2018;Ihalainen et al, 2018;Laaksonen et al, 2018;Sattlecker et al, 2015;Sattlecker et al, 2017;Vonheim, 2012;Žák et al, 2017). In our study, the statistical significance was only showed in comparing parameters of dynamics rifle stability during targeting in resting conditions against these parameters in exercise Intensity 3 in the women group.…”

“…The majority of researches that have been presented so far were chiefly focused on the stability of the standing shooting position, the stability of the rifle during targeting, triggering and the dependence of the above mentioned parameters on the shooting success (Gallicchio et al, 2018;Haug, 2018;Ihalainen et al, 2018;Laaksonen et al, 2018;Sattlecker et al, 2015;Sattlecker et al 2017;Žák et al, 2017). Results of specific researches confirmed the dependence between the intensity of the physical load and the athlete´s postural stability in the standing shooting position, especially in anterior-posterior axis (Gallicchio et al, 2018;Haug, 2018;Ihalainen et al, 2018;Laaksonen et al, 2018;Sattlecker et al, 2015;Sattlecker et al, 2017;Vonheim, 2012;Žák et al, 2017). Høydal and Nord (2017) presented the importance of heart rate monitors during training by junior biathletes.…”

“…This statement was proved. The observation of a process of triggering and its control was not included in the observed parameters the above mentioned previous study, but many authors regard trigger parameters among the most limiting factors of shooting in biathlon (Haug, 2018;Ihalainen et al, 2018;Sattlecker et al 2017;Vonheim, 2012;Žák et al, 2016;Žák et al, 2017). This was the reason to include the analysis of finger work on the trigger into our current study apart from data of stability of the rifle in a standing shooting position.…”

Analysis of a Biathlon Sprint Competition and Associated Laboratory Determinants of Performance

“…Thus, it might be that more detailed analysis of the spread of hits would reveal other relationships to exercise intensity than in our study. Interestingly, it has been suggested that the most important parameters of biathlon shooting technique are movement of the rifle in the vertical direction and cleanness of triggering (i.e., movement of the rifle 0.2-0.0 s before triggering; Ihalainen et al, 2018). This study additionally found that these parameters were negatively affected by high intensity exercise in both junior and elite biathletes, but that elite biathletes scored better than juniors on these technique parameters (Ihalainen et al, 2018).…”

“…Interestingly, it has been suggested that the most important parameters of biathlon shooting technique are movement of the rifle in the vertical direction and cleanness of triggering (i.e., movement of the rifle 0.2-0.0 s before triggering; Ihalainen et al, 2018). This study additionally found that these parameters were negatively affected by high intensity exercise in both junior and elite biathletes, but that elite biathletes scored better than juniors on these technique parameters (Ihalainen et al, 2018). Altogether this indicates that biathletes' shooting technique is altered more by intense exercise than what can be seen on shooting performance measured as number of hits during a competition.…”