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The purpose of the study was to investigate which physiological parameters would most accurately predict a 6-min, all-out, double-poling (DP) performance in recreational cross-country skiers. Twelve male recreational cross-country skiers performed tests consisting of three series lasting 10 s, one lasting 60 s, plus a 6-min, all-out, DP performance test to estimate mean and peak power output. On a separate day, gross mechanical efficiency (GE) was estimated from a 10-min, submaximal, DP test and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) was estimated from an incremental treadmill running test. Power was measured after each stroke from the acceleration and deceleration of the flywheel that induced the friction on the ergometer. The power was shown to the skier on a small computer placed on the ergometer. A multivariable correlation analysis showed that GE most strongly predicted 6-min DP performance (r = 0.79) and interestingly, neither DP VO2 max, nor treadmill-running VO2 max, correlated with 6-min DP performance. In conclusion, GE correlated most strongly with 6-min DP performance and GE at the ski ergometer was estimated to be 6.4 ± 1.1%. It is suggested that recreational cross-country skiers focus on skiing technique to improve gross mechanical efficiency during intense DP.

This study determined the validity and reliability of an incremental double poling protocol performed on a Concept II ski-ergometer and validated this against an existing treadmill ski-striding protocol. Ten well-trained male cross-country skiers (age: 19 ± 1.4 y; height: 182 ± 72 cm; body mass: 76.0 ± 10.8 kg, whole body VO2Peak: 5.2 ± 1.0 L.min-1; upper body VO2Peak: 4.6 ± 1.0 L.min-1; upper body:lower body ratio: 87.2 ± 5.6%) performed four VO2Peak tests; one treadmill ski-striding test and three double poling ski-ergometer tests over five days. Test-retest reliability of the ski-ergometer protocol was determined for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak). The ski-ergometer test showed excellent reliability for VO2Peak (L.min-1) (coefficient of variation [CV] = 1.9%, 95% confidence limit [95% CL] [1.2, 4.7]; r = 1.00, [0.96, 1.00]) and UBPPeak (W) (CV = 1.4%, [0.9, 3.4]; r = 1.00, [0.97, 1.00]). Very strong correlations existed between the ski-ergometer and the ski-striding protocol for VO2Peak (r = 0.95, [0.76, 0.99]). The upper body ski-ergometer test provided valid and reliable measurements of ski-specific upper body aerobic power in well-trained male cross-country skiers.