Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Physiology of Alpine skiing.

R E Andersen1, D L Montgomery

  • 1Gray Rocks Inn Ski Resort, Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada.

Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|October 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary

Elite Alpine skiers require significant muscular strength and endurance, with physiological demands met through targeted training. Understanding these fitness components is key for optimizing performance and preventing injuries in competitive skiing.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Eccentric exercise induces spatial changes in the mechanomyographic activity of the upper trapezius muscle.

Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports·2018
Same author

Heart Rate Response to Racquetball.

The Physician and sportsmedicine·2016
Same author

A Comparison of the Intensity of Play in Squash and Running.

The Physician and sportsmedicine·2016
Same author

Exploring Perceptions of Barriers, Facilitators, and Motivators to Physical Activity Among Female Bariatric Patients: Implications for Physical Activity Programming.

American journal of health promotion : AJHP·2015
Same author

Physical activity and sitting time in bariatric surgery patients 1-16 years post-surgery.

Clinical obesity·2015
Same author

Environmental changes to promote physical activity and healthy dietary behavior.

Journal of environmental and public health·2012

Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Elite Alpine skiing demands a high level of physiological fitness, including muscular strength, anaerobic and aerobic endurance, coordination, agility, balance, and flexibility.
  • Successful skiers are generally taller and heavier than in previous eras, with specific body types correlating to different disciplines (e.g., leaner slalom skiers, heavier downhill racers).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the physiological profiles of elite Alpine skiers.
  • To identify key fitness components crucial for performance in Alpine skiing.
  • To investigate the metabolic and biomechanical demands of competitive skiing.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of physiological data including muscular strength (peak torque), blood lactate concentrations, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max).
  • Examination of energy system contributions (glycolytic and aerobic) during different skiing events.
  • Assessment of muscle glycogen utilization in slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscle fibers.
  • Review of injury data in relation to training load and fatigue.

Main Results:

  • Elite skiers exhibit strong leg strength, particularly in knee extension, correlating with performance in downhill and giant slalom.
  • The glycolytic system contributes significantly (approx. 40%) to energy production in slalom and giant slalom, evidenced by high blood and muscle lactate levels post-race.
  • High maximal aerobic power (VO2max) is observed, potentially reflecting training adaptations rather than direct in-race demands, as anaerobic metabolism increases during turns.
  • Skilled skiers show greater glycogen depletion in slow-twitch fibers compared to unskilled skiers, and overall glycogen stores decrease significantly after a day of training, potentially linking to fatigue and injury risk.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing training programs to enhance muscular strength, anaerobic/aerobic endurance, and other fitness components is essential for elite Alpine skiers.
  • The high reliance on anaerobic metabolism and significant muscle glycogen utilization highlight the intense physiological demands of competitive skiing.
  • Glycogen depletion may contribute to the increased risk of injury observed towards the end of a ski day.

Related Experiment Videos