AUTHOR=Sunde Arnstein , Christoffersen Fredrik , Johansen Jan-Michael , Støren Øyvind 

TITLE=Steeper or Faster? Tactical Dispositions to Minimize Oxygen Cost in Ski Mountaineering

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=Volume 3 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.828389

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2021.828389

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=Purpose: investigate the effect of speed, inclination and use of heel elevator on the oxygen cost of  the vertical climbing (Cvert) in ski mountaineering. Methods: Nineteen (3 women and 16 men) moderate to well-trained recreational Norwegian ski mountaineers participated in this study. All participants were tested for VO2max in running, and in a ski mountaineering test on a treadmill, to assess Cvert. The test protocol consisted of 12 four minutes work periods at different inclinations from 13° to 23°, with continuous VO2 measurements. After every second work period, the inclination increased with 2o and speed was decreased accordingly. The speed reduction was based on the equation Vvert = sin(α)  speed, were α represent the angle of inclination. Vvert was thus held constant for each work period (854 m·h-1). All work periods were completed twice, with and without heel elevator. Half of the subjects started with the smallest inclination, and the other half started with the steepest inclination. Results: Cvert was unchanged at all inclinations except of 13°, where there was a significant higher Cvert, at the same Vvert. Only at 13o, Cvert was higher with the use of heel elevator. There was also a significant trend indicating lower Cvert with use of heel elevator with steeper inclination. Conclusions: There seemed to be nothing to gain by choosing detours if the inclination was 13° or less. The use of heel elevator was more advantageous, the steeper the inclination, but at 13o there was a negative effect of using heel elevator.