title: Seasonal variation of VO 2 max and the VO2-work rate relationship in elite Alpine skiers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alpine ski performance relates closely to both anaerobic and aerobic capacities. During their competitive season, skiers greatly reduce endurance and weight training, and on-snow training becomes predominant. To typify this shift, we compared exhaustive ramp cycling and squat (SJ) and countermovement jumping (CMJ) performance in elite males before and after their competitive season.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In postseason compared with preseason: 1) maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) normalized to bodyweight was higher (55.2 +/- 5.2 vs 52.7 +/- 3.6 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1), P < 0.01), but corresponding work rate (W) was unchanged; 2) at ventilatory thresholds (VT), absolute and relative work rates were similar but heart rates were lower; 3) VO2/W slope was greater (9.59 +/- 0.6 vs 9.19 +/- 0.4 mL O2 x min(-1) x W(-1), P = 0.02), with similar flattening (P < 0.01) above V T1 at both time points; and 4) jump height was greater in SJ (47.4 +/- 4.4 vs 44.7 +/- 4.3 cm, P < 0.01) and CMJ (52.7 +/- 4.6 vs 50.4 +/- 5.0 cm, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that aerobic capacity and leg power were constrained in preseason and that improvements primarily reflected an in-season recovery from a fatigued state, which was caused by incongruous preseason training. Residual adaptations to high-altitude exposure in preseason could have also affected the results. Nonetheless, modern alpine skiing seemingly provides an ample cardiovascular training stimulus for skiers to maintain their aerobic capacities during the racing season.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that aerobic fitness and leg explosiveness can be maintained in-season but may be compromised by heavy or excessive preseason training. In addition, ramp test V O2/W slope analysis could be useful for monitoring both positive and negative responses to training.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Anatomy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Micah A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Fabio A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Breil
authors.forename: Andrea D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoppeler
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vogt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000531:Altitude; D054874:Athletic Performance; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012865:Skiing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult