Cross-country (XC) skiers employ whole-body exercise to generate speed through poles and skis. The choice of optimal pole and ski lengths are therefore of high importance. The aim of this study was to document pole and ski lengths among elite male and female cross-country skiers in the classical and skating styles and to investigate sex differences in body-height-normalized pole and ski lengths. Our ...

Individual training responses among endurance athletes are determined by a complex interplay between training load, recovery and genetic influence. The present study used a multidisciplinary approach to compare high- and low-responders following a 6-month training period in endurance athletes transferring to cross-country (XC) skiing. Twenty-three endurance-trained athletes (14 runners and 9 ...

<i>Purpose</i> - Biathlon is an Olympic sport combining 3–5 laps of cross-country skiing with rifle shooting, alternating between the prone and standing shooting positions between laps. The individual distance and the sprint are extensively examined whereas the pursuit, with start times based on the sprint results, is unexplored. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the contribution ...

<i>Purpose</i>: To examine the development of performance, physiological and technical capacities as well as the effect of sport background among runners, kayakers and rowers when transferred to cross-country (XC) skiing over a 6-month training period.<p><p> <i>Methods</i>: Twenty-four endurance athletes (15 runners and 9 rowers/kayakers; 15 men and 9 women) were tested for performance, physiological ...

The purposes of this study were: 1) to investigate the anaerobic energy contribution during a simulated cross-country (XC) skiing mass-start competition while roller-ski skating on a treadmill; 2) to investigate the relationship between the recovery of the anaerobic energy reserves and performance; and 3) to compare the gross efficiency (GE) method and maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) to ...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of including 30-s sprints in one weekly low-intensity training (LIT) session during a 3-week transition period in elite cyclists. Sixteen male elite cyclists (maximal oxygen uptake, VO_2max: 72 ± 5 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) reduced their training load by ~60% for 3 weeks from the end of competitive season and performed ...

Purpose: To describe menstrual cycle (MC)-related practices, knowledge, communication, and health in Indian endurance athletes and to investigate the changes in their perception of sleep quality, readiness to train, training quality, fitness, and performance across the MC. Methods: Data on female Indian athletes (N = 96, age 22 [3] y) competing in 7 endurance sports at (inter)national and state level ...

Many female athletes perceive that symptoms related to the menstrual cycle such as dysmenorrhea, premenstrual symptoms, amenorrhea or side-effects of hormonal contraceptives negatively impact their training, performance, and general well-being. Knowledge and communication about female athletes’ health is therefore important in the sport community. The aims of this study were to explore the level ...

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the efect of pole length on performance and technique selection during a simulated skating cross-country (XC) skiing competition on snow in female XC skiers.<p> <p>Methods Nine female XC skiers and biathletes (VO_2max 63.6±6.2 mL/min/kg, age 22.9±3.5 years, body height 1.69±0.1 m and body mass 60.8±4.6 kg) completed two 5-km skating ...

This study looks at how emotions were associated with ski jumping competitions in world cup for four athletes representing the Norwegian national team in Nordic combined. The athletes documented their emotional experiences during competition rounds (trial-, and competition rounds) and non-competitive episodes (the period just after the competition round). The results in this study show that there ...