Faculty Collaboration Database

Characteristics and performance of male citizen cross-country ski racers. Int J Sports Med 1988 Jun;9(3):205-9

Date

06/01/1988

Pubmed ID

3410626

DOI

10.1055/s-2007-1025007

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0023938951 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   23 Citations

Abstract

Forty-three male citizen or recreational cross-country (X-C) ski racers (aged 31 +/- 4.4 years) were tested to determine their weight (BW) and percent body fat (BF), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), quadriceps (Quad), hamstrings (Ham) and upper body (UBS) isokinetic strength (60 degrees, 180 degrees, 240 degrees/s), and Quad endurance. In addition, skiers filled out a questionnaire to determine their skiing experience and to see what other activities they participated in. All these variables were run through a stepwise regression procedure to see which characteristics best predicted performance in a 10 km X-C ski race. The relatively high VO2max of 56.6 ml O2/kg/min and low BF of 10.1% indicate this group to be a very fit subset of the general population. All the skiers were active in other sports on a year-round basis. Of the variables studied, UBS, VO2max, and Quad strength were all significant determinants of 10 km race performance, yielding a multiple R of 0.78. Quad endurance, Ham strength, BW, BF, and experience did not significantly contribute toward the prediction of performance. It is felt that a proper training program for the citizen X-C skier should strive to maximize upper body strength as well as one's aerobic capacity.

Author List

Ng AV, Demment RB, Bassett DR, Bussan MJ, Clark RR, Kuta JM, Schauer JE

Author

Alexander V. Ng PhD Associate Professor in the Exercise Science department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Body Constitution
Humans
Male
Muscles
Oxygen Consumption
Regression Analysis
Skiing