Physiological Aspects of Different Roller Skiing Techniques in Field Conditions

The main goal of the study was to evaluate the impact of different roller skiing techniques (classical CT and skating ST) performed under field conditions on physical capacity variables in cross-country skiers. The second purpose was to evaluate the possibility to use the test results conducted under field and laboratory conditions interchangeably to determine training loads. Eight international-level cross-country skiers (4 male, 4 female) with 8.8 ± 1.3 years of skiing experience took part in the study. The athletes performed three graded tests to exhaustion: two under field conditions (roller skiing CT and ST techniques) and one in the laboratory: treadmill running (TR). All tests were conducted within a period of two weeks to compare general and specific physical capacity outcomes. ANOVA demonstrated significant differences in the threshold heart rate (HR_AT4) (ST 175.3 ± 10.8 bpm, CT 175.8 ± 10.9 bpm, TR 181.5 ± 11.1 bpm; p = 0.004), maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) (ST 64.0 ± 4.65 ml/kg/min, CT 61.5 ± 5.09 ml/kg/min, TR 65.9 ± 2.30 ml/kg/min; p = 0.008) and maximal HR (ST 189.3 ± 10.9 bpm, CT 188.9 ± 10.6 bpm, TR 199.5 ± 10.3 bpm; p = 0.002). No significant differences were observed between classical and skating roller skiing techniques for maximal and threshold values except for threshold velocity (CT 13.4 ± 1.11 km/h vs. ST 14.7 ± 1.17 km/h p = 0.002). Maximal velocity was not measured. The main finding of the study is that it is possible to use threshold HR values obtained in roller skiing tests performed using the classical or skating techniques interchangeably to determine roller skiing training loads. The results of the study indicate that there is a need to verify maximal treadmill running exertion variables in specific roller skiing tests.