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Int J Sports Med 1999; 20(5): 290-294
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-971133
Training and Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Upper Body Power Comparison Between Groups of Cross-Country Skiers and Runners

S. E. Gaskill1 , R. C. Serfass1 , K. W. Rundel1 , 2
  • 1Division of Kinesiology, Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
  • 2Sport Science Division, United States Olympic Committee, Lake Placid, New York, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
09 March 2007 (online)

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between upper body power (UBP) and cross-country ski skating race velocity (R) in a cross sectional representation of cross country skiers. Additionally, cross-country skiers UBP was compared to UBP of distance runners. Participants (n= 195) were tested on a Street Arm Ergometer for UBP using a ramped maximal UBP test simulating a double poling motion. A strong relationship (r = 0.89) between UBP and RV in skiers was determined. High school skiers were separated into slow and fast groups based on reported RV; significant differences (p<0.05) in both UBP was found to be an effective partial predictor of RV, independent of gender. Mean UBP for the cross-country runners was 46 % of mean UBP for the cross-country skiers. With UBP contributing so much to performance in cross-country ski racing, it is recommended that cross-country skiers focus a large portion of their training on the specific development of that fitness component.

Key words

Nordic skiing - upper body power - athletes - performance