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Cited by 110Sports Performance and TrainingWinter Sports Injuries and PerformanceCardiovascular and exercise physiology

The Physiological Capacity of the World’s Highest Ranked Female Cross-country Skiers

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SANDBAKK, ØYVIND, HEGGE, ANN MAGDALEN, LOSNEGARD, THOMAS, SKATTEBO, ØYVIND, TØNNESSEN, ESPEN, HOLMBERG, HANS-CHRISTER·2016·Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
DOI 10.1249/mss.0000000000000862PMC PMC5642331
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Abstract

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to compare the physiological capacity and training characteristics of the world's six highest ranked female cross-country skiers (world class (WC)) with those of six competitors of national class (NC). METHODS: Immediately before the start of the competition season, all skiers performed three 5-min submaximal stages of roller skiing on a treadmill for measurement of oxygen cost, as well as a 3-min self-paced performance test using both the double poling (DP) and diagonal stride (DIA) techniques. During the 3-min performance tests, the total distance covered, peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2peak), and accumulated oxygen deficit were determined. Each skier documented the intensity and mode of their training during the preceding 6 months in a diary. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups with respect to oxygen cost or gross efficiency at the submaximal speeds. The WC skiers covered 6%-7% longer distances during the 3-min tests and exhibited average V˙O2peak values of ∼70 and ∼65 mL·min·kg with DIA and DP, respectively, which were 10% and 7% higher than the NC skiers (all P < 0.05). However, the accumulated oxygen deficit did not differ between groups. From May to October, the WC skiers trained a total of 532 ± 73 h (270 ± 26 sessions) versus 411 ± 62 h (240 ± 27 sessions) for the NC skiers. In addition, the WC skiers performed 26% more low-intensity and almost twice as much moderate-intensity endurance and speed training (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of a high oxygen uptake and the ability to use this while performing the different skiing techniques on varying terrains for female cross-country skiers to win international races. In addition, the training data documented here provide benchmark values for female endurance athletes aiming for medals.

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  • The performance level of the participants (Tiers 4-5) generally have lower levels of adipose tissue thickness compared to the broader population.

    “The performance level of our participants (i.e., Tiers 4–5), who generally have lower levels of adipose tissue thickness compared to the broader population (Larsson & Henriksson‐Larsen, 2008; Sandbakk et al., 2016), further reinforces these finding, due to the minimized variability and attenuated effects generally observed with NIRS measurements.”

    From Agreement between muscle saturation breakpoints and lactate thresholds: Muscles comparison and sex difference in world‐class Nordic skiers (2026) · cites this paper as Sandbakk et al., 2016

    The Methods (Instruments and Materials) describe measuring body mass, while the Results and Discussion compare skiing performance and physiological capacity. Searches for adipose tissue thickness, skinfolds, and body composition found no passage comparing the skiers’ adipose tissue thickness with that of the broader population. (LLM, conf=0.73)

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Authors
SANDBAKK, Ø., HEGGE, A. M., LOSNEGARD, T., SKATTEBO, Ø., TØNNESSEN, E., & HOLMBERG, H.-C.
Affiliations
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
ORCID
Venue
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2016-06
Volume
48
Issue
6
Pages
1091-1100
ISSN
0195-9131 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1249/mss.0000000000000862
PMC
PMC5642331
OpenAlex
W2314820949
Cited by
110
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 9
FWCI
12.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
  • Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • BIBSYS Brage (BIBSYS (Norway)) (acceptedVersion)
  • Diva portal (Dalarna University Library) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Winter Sports Injuries and Performance
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
cross-country skiing, female athletes, physiological capacity, peak oxygen uptake, oxygen deficit, training characteristics, endurance training, speed training, double poling, diagonal stride, roller skiing, endurance athletes, training load
MeSH terms
Adult, Competitive Behavior, Exercise Test, Female, Humans, Oxygen Consumption, Physical Endurance, Skiing, Young Adult, Physical Conditioning, Human

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