UPPER BODY POWER RELATES TO SKI SKATING ECONOMY OF ELITE BIATHLON SKIERS796

Abstract

Biathlon racing involves the exclusive use of the ski skating technique. Since economy has been determined to be important in running performance, the purpose of this study was to evaluate gross economy during treadmill roller ski skating of elite biathletes. 17 male biathletes (4 Olympic medalists) performed incremental treadmill roller ski skating to volitional exhaustion, and a double poling upper body power (UBP) test. In addition, athletes performed a submaximal roller ski test to evaluate skiing economy (EC). Respiratory gas and blood lactate(LA) values were collected during roller skiing. Performance rank did not relate to peak VO2, but did relate to, lactate threshold (TH) VO2, UBP (w & w/kg), ECVO2, and ECLA (respective r's = -0.08, -0.75, -0.72, -0.82, 0.65, 0.59). Table Lower ECLA was coincident with higher UBP (w & w/kg; r=-0.82 &-0.75) and THVO2 (r=-0.64). ECVO2 was also significantly related to THVO2, absolute & relative UBP (respective r's = -0.59, -0.57, -0.55). The results of this study indicate that upper body power is highly related to skiing economy and in turn ski performance.