Physiological responses to different roller skiing techniques

This study compared the physiological responses during roller skiing with the V1 skate, kick double pole, and double pole techniques. Eight male nordic ski racers roller skied over a flat one-mile track at 14 and 18 km.h-1 using each of the three techniques under study. Heart rates and oxygen uptakes were measured during the last minute of each bout, ratings of perceived exertion were requested immediately after each bout, and capillary blood lactate concentrations were determined 3 min after each bout. The double pole technique was found to be significantly more economical (P less than 0.05) than the other techniques, as demonstrated by a 12% lower oxygen consumption. No differences were found between the V1 skate and the kick double pole techniques for any of the variables studied. The findings of similar physiological responses with the V1 skate and kick double pole techniques suggest that these techniques should induce similar cardiovascular adaptations when roller skiing at the same speed on flat terrain.