Velocity-Load Jump Testing Predicts Acceleration Performance in Elite Speed Skaters: But Does Movement Specificity...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Performance Analysis

Background:

• Optimizing on-ice acceleration is crucial for elite speed skaters.
• Understanding the relationship between jump testing and skating performance is key for training.
• Velocity-load testing offers a method to assess power output relevant to skating.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare movement specificity in velocity-load jump tests for predicting on-ice acceleration in elite speed skaters.
• To identify which jump test parameters best correlate with key on-ice performance metrics.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-seven elite speed skaters performed unilateral horizontal, lateral, and bilateral vertical countermovement jumps with varying external loads.
• On-ice performance was measured via maximal 50-m accelerations, including skating speed, acceleration capacity, and horizontal power.
• Regularized regression models identified predictors of on-ice performance, with Pearson correlations assessing relationships.

Main Results:

• The countermovement jump with 30% body mass load showed the strongest association with maximal skating speed, horizontal power, and 100-m time (r = .84–.97).
• Horizontal jumps with 15% body mass load were the strongest predictors of maximal acceleration capacity (r = .83).

Conclusions:

• Mechanical specificity, rather than movement specificity, is more relevant for predicting on-ice acceleration performance in speed skaters.
• Specific jump tests, like the countermovement jump and horizontal jump with tailored loads, can effectively predict different aspects of speed skating performance.