Abstract

Cross-country skiing is a demanding whole-body endurance sport where the prevailing environmental conditions during the winter frequently expose cross-country skiers to low ambient temperatures (TA). Compared to the extensive knowledge on the effects of hot environments on endurance performance and the corresponding physiological responses, the effect of cold TA on these parameters need further examination. PURPOSE: To investigate the differences in double poling (DP) economy and endurance performance between low (-15°C) and moderate (6°C) ambient temperatures (TA). METHODS: Randomized on two separate days, thirteen well-trained male cross-country skiers performed a 10-min warm-up followed by a 5-min submaximal (Sub1) test, a 20-minute self-paced performance test, a second 5-min submaximal test (Sub2) and incremental DP to exhaustion using the DP technique on an ergometer. All skiers wore a standard cross-country skiing racing-suit, and skin and rectal temperatures, power output and respiratory variables were measured continuously during all tests. RESULTS: Skin and rectal temperatures were significantly lower at low compared to moderate TA (both P<0.05). There was a 5% (P<0.05) lower average power output that mainly occurred in the first 8 minutes of the 20-minute performance test at low compared to moderate TA. DP economy at Sub1 did not differ between TA, but a 3.7% (P<0.01) larger decrease in economy from Sub1 to Sub2 was revealed for the low TA. Peak oxygen uptake was independent of TA. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated lower body temperatures and reduced DP performance at low compared to moderate TA. This was mainly caused by a more conservative pacing strategy and coincided with reduced DP economy.

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