title: Upper body power comparison between groups of cross-country skiers and runners.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between upper body power (UBP) and cross-country ski skating race velocity (R) in a cross sectional representation of cross-country skiers. Additionally, cross-country skiers' UBP was compared to UBP of distance runners. Participants (n = 195) were tested on a Street Arm Ergometer for UBP using a ramped maximal UBP test simulating a double poling motion. A strong relationship (r = 0.89) between UBP and RV in skiers was determined. High school skiers were separated into slow and fast groups based on reported RV; significant differences (p < 0.05) in both UBP was found to be an effective partial predictor of RV, independent of gender. Mean UBP for the cross-country runners was 46% of mean UBP for the cross-country skiers. With UBP contributing so much to performance in cross-country ski racing, it is recommended that cross-country skiers focus a large portion of their training on the specific development of that fitness component.
authors.affiliation: Division of Kinesiology, Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA. Gaski005@tc.umn.edu
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gaskill
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Serfass
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Rundell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012865:Skiing / Q000502:physiology*