Seasonal Variation of VO2 max and the VO2-Work Rate Relationship in Elite Alpine Skiers

Gross, Micah; Breil, Fabio A.; Lehmann, Andrea D.; Hoppeler, Hans; Vogt, Michael (2009). Seasonal Variation of VO2 max and the VO2-Work Rate Relationship in Elite Alpine Skiers Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(11), pp. 2084-2089. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181a8c37a

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Purpose: 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). Discussion: 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.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	Swiss Federal Institute of Sports Magglingen SFISM > EHSM - Leistungssport > Sportphysiologie Kraft
Name:	Gross, Micah; Breil, Fabio A.; Lehmann, Andrea D.; Hoppeler, Hans and Vogt, Michael
ISSN:	0195-9131 (Print) 1530-0315 (Online)
Publisher:	Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Language:	English
Submitter:	Service Account
Date Deposited:	22 Mar 2021 08:55
Last Modified:	05 Oct 2021 02:18
Publisher DOI:	10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181a8c37a
PubMed ID:	19812507
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Adolescent Altitude Athletic performance Exercise test Humans Oxygen consumption physiology Seasons Skiing physiology Young adult
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.11141
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/11141