Upper body power comparison between groups of cross-country skiers and runners.
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.
Gaskill
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Division of Kinesiology, Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA. Gaski005@tc.umn.edu
Serfass
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RC
Rundell
K W
KW
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*