Due to more effective training and tremendous improvements in equipment and track preparation, the speed of cross-country ski races has increased more than that of any other Olympic endurance sport over the last 30 years. In addition to the introduction of the skating technique, also pursuit, mass-start and sprint races have been introduced during this period. Accordingly, a reappraisal of the success factors for performance in today's cross-country skiing events has been required. World-class cross-country skiers have traditionally shown some of the highest maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) values ever reported, with values of 80-90 and 70-80 mL·kg-1·min-1 for men and women, respectively. Thus, every step of the oxygen transport is being challenged, and often by temperatures as low as -20° C during competitions. Data from today's world-class distance crosscountry skiers from Norway and Sweden demonstrate aerobic capacity similar to those of previous champions. While the absolute values of VO2max exhibited by elite sprint and distance skiers are similar, the former have slightly lower values relative to body mass and compensate by higher anaerobic capacity. Notably, world class skiers hare able to attain high speeds and exhibit high peak aerobic capacity in specific skiing techniques, both on uphill and flat terrain. At the same time, the requirements for upper-body power, high-speed techniques and "tactical flexibility" have all increased for those aspiring to win medals. For example, in connection with sprint skiing, speed over a short distance and maximal strength correlate closely with performance. The wide range of speeds and slopes involved in cross-country skiing require skiers to continuously alternate between and adapt different sub-techniques during a race. This requires a constant variation of exercise intensity and work load on the various muscles involved, and additionally this technical complexity, with numerous degrees of freedom with respect to timing force generation by the arms and legs in connection with the various skiing techniques, places a premium on efficiency. Endurance training is still the major component of a cross-country skier's training, and the endurance training by cross-country skiers involves a "polarized" model, with a great deal of lowintensity training and low-to-moderate amounts of high-intensity training. The amount of endurance training at these different levels has apparently not changed during the past three decades, and skiing, roller skiing and running on varying terrain remain the predominant modes of exercise. However, today cross-country skiers are performing more endurance training on roller skis on competition-specific terrain, placing greater focus on upper-body power and more systematically perform strength training and skiing at high speeds than previously. Still, there are substantial variations within the world-class athletes that also highlight individual approaches, where the training is matched to the unique characteristics of each skier. --- The hosting University of Jyväskylä is planning to publish conference proceedings "Science and Nordic Skiing III". In case you are interested in this publication please contact the editors (Anni Hakkarainen anni.s.j.hakkarainen@jyu.fi) to become registered for the book.
© Copyright 2015 3rd International Congress on Science and Nordic Skiing - ICSNS 2015. 5-8 June 2015, Vuokatti, Finland. Julkaistu Tekijä University of Jyväskylä; University of Salzburg. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator