Abstract
Introduction: To establish an alpine ski racing (ASR) specific dryland high intensity training protocol (HIT), we set out to analyze cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses of three ASR specific HIT modes using a ski ergometer compared with a running HIT.Methods: Ten healthy international FIS level subjects (18 ± 1 years) performed an incremental running VO2max test, three different ASR specific HIT modes [slalom (SL), giant slalom (GS), and SL/GS mix] and a running HIT with measurements of VO2, heart rate (HR), blood lactate, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). The HIT protocols included 15 × 1-min intervals with >90% HRmax and 30 s active rest. Furthermore, one elite alpine skier performed an 8-week, 17 session HIT block using the SL/GS mixed mode.Results: Running HIT resulted in greater VO2peak and whole-body RPE compared with the three ASR-specific HIT modes. During all four exercise modes participants were able to reach exercise intensities high enough to be classified as HIT (>90% HRmax and >89% VO2max). Legs RPE was similar between the four HIT modes, while arms RPE was higher for the ski-specific HIT. For all studied parameters, similar results for the three skiing specific HIT modes were observed. The 8-week HIT block was feasible for the athlete and resulted in an 11% increase in VO2max at unchanged peak power output.Conclusion: Across all HIT protocols high cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses were achieved. Therefore, the ASR specific HIT was shown to be feasible, thus could offer new possibilities for endurance training in elite alpine skiers. It is suggested to use the SL/GS mixed mode in terms of movement variety. The reduced VO2 in the ski-specific modifications can be attributed to the concentric and eccentric muscle activity resulting in mechanical hindrance for O2 extraction. The long-term effectiveness of ASR specific HIT in elite alpine skiers needs to be proven in a future study.
Highlights
To establish an alpine ski racing (ASR) specific dryland high intensity training protocol (HIT), we set out to analyze cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses of three Alpine ski racing (ASR) specific HIT modes using a ski ergometer compared with a running HIT
The main differences were found with respect to cardiorespiratory parameters with higher mean VO2 values in the running HIT protocol compared with all three specific HIT modes (P = 0.008)
With respect to VO2peak values, running HIT was higher compared with HIT in Giant Slalom (GS) (P < 0.001) and SL (P < 0.01), while no difference was found to the mixed GS–SL mixed mode (GS/SL) mode
Summary
To establish an alpine ski racing (ASR) specific dryland high intensity training protocol (HIT), we set out to analyze cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses of three ASR specific HIT modes using a ski ergometer compared with a running HIT. Alpine Skiing HIT Ergometer Training capabilities within all physiological systems (Müller et al, 2000; Gross et al, 2009; Turnbull et al, 2009). In this context it was demonstrated that the energy contribution during ASR is based 30–65% on anaerobic and 35–70% on aerobic processes (Veicsteinas et al, 1984; Saibene et al, 1985; Andersen and Montgomery, 1988; Tesch, 1995; Grenier et al, 2013). Blood lactate concentration of 5.7 mmol L−1 on junior level and up to 13 mmol L−1 on elite level have been reported for the SL and GS disciplines (Andersen and Montgomery, 1988; Vogt et al, 2000; Grenier et al, 2013; Polat, 2016)
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