The effects of skiing velocity on mechanical aspects of diagonal cross-country skiing |
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| Authors: | Erik Andersson Barbara Pellegrini Øyvind Sandbakk Thomas Stüggl Hans-Christer Holmberg |
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| Institution: | 1. Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, ?stersund, Swedenerik.andersson@miun.se;3. CeRiSM, Research Center for Sport, Mountain and Health, Rovereto, Italy;4. Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy;5. Centre for Elite Sports Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway;6. Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, ?stersund, Sweden;7. Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria;8. Swedish Olympic Committee, Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | Cycle and force characteristics were examined in 11 elite male cross-country skiers using the diagonal stride technique while skiing uphill (7.5°) on snow at moderate (3.5 ± 0.3 m/s), high (4.5 ± 0.4 m/s), and maximal (5.6 ± 0.6 m/s) velocities. Video analysis (50 Hz) was combined with plantar (leg) force (100 Hz), pole force (1,500 Hz), and photocell measurements. Both cycle rate and cycle length increased from moderate to high velocity, while cycle rate increased and cycle length decreased at maximal compared to high velocity. The kick time decreased 26% from moderate to maximal velocity, reaching 0.14 s at maximal. The relative kick and gliding times were only altered at maximal velocity, where these were longer and shorter, respectively. The rate of force development increased with higher velocity. At maximal velocity, sprint-specialists were 14% faster than distance-specialists due to greater cycle rate, peak leg force, and rate of leg force development. In conclusion, large peak leg forces were applied rapidly across all velocities and the shorter relative gliding and longer relative kick phases at maximal velocity allow maintenance of kick duration for force generation. These results emphasise the importance of rapid leg force generation in diagonal skiing. |
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| Keywords: | Cycle characteristics kinetics Nordic skiing |
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