The Training Characteristics of World-Class Male Long-Distance Cross-Country Skiers
Purpose: To investigate the training characteristics of world-class long-distance cross-country skiers.Methods: Twelve world-class male long-distance cross-country skiing specialists reported training from their best season, through a questionnaire and follow-up interviews. Training data were system...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.641389/full |
| _version_ | 1819315845162074112 |
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| author | Per-Øyvind Torvik Guro Strøm Solli Guro Strøm Solli Øyvind Sandbakk |
| author_facet | Per-Øyvind Torvik Guro Strøm Solli Guro Strøm Solli Øyvind Sandbakk |
| author_sort | Per-Øyvind Torvik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: To investigate the training characteristics of world-class long-distance cross-country skiers.Methods: Twelve world-class male long-distance cross-country skiing specialists reported training from their best season, through a questionnaire and follow-up interviews. Training data were systemized by training form (endurance, strength, and speed), intensity [low- (LIT), moderate- (MIT), and high-intensity training (HIT)], and exercise mode, followed by a division into different periodization phases. Specific sessions utilized in the various periodization phases were also analyzed.Results: The annual training volume was 861 ± 90 h, consisting of 795 ± 88 h (92%) of endurance training, 53 ± 17 h (6%) of strength training, and 13 ± 14 h (2%) of speed training. A pyramidal (asymptotic) endurance training distribution was employed (i.e., 88.7% LIT, 6.4% MIT, and 4.8% HIT). Out of this, 50–60% of the endurance training was performed with double poling (DP), typically in the form of a daily 3- to 5-h session. A relatively evenly distributed week-to-week periodization of training load was commonly used in the general preparation period, whereas skiers varied between high-load training weeks and competition weeks, with half the training volume and a reduced amount of DP during the competition period.Conclusions: To match the specific demands of long-distance cross-country skiing, specialized long-distance skiers perform relatively long but few training sessions and use a pyramidal intensity distribution pattern and a large amount of training spent using the DP technique. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T10:06:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e97012ae8c94b3f928a07441ca169ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T10:06:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e97012ae8c94b3f928a07441ca169ca2022-12-21T17:00:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672021-02-01310.3389/fspor.2021.641389641389The Training Characteristics of World-Class Male Long-Distance Cross-Country SkiersPer-Øyvind Torvik0Guro Strøm Solli1Guro Strøm Solli2Øyvind Sandbakk3Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, NorwayDepartment of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, NorwayDepartment of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Centre for Elite Sports Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Centre for Elite Sports Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayPurpose: To investigate the training characteristics of world-class long-distance cross-country skiers.Methods: Twelve world-class male long-distance cross-country skiing specialists reported training from their best season, through a questionnaire and follow-up interviews. Training data were systemized by training form (endurance, strength, and speed), intensity [low- (LIT), moderate- (MIT), and high-intensity training (HIT)], and exercise mode, followed by a division into different periodization phases. Specific sessions utilized in the various periodization phases were also analyzed.Results: The annual training volume was 861 ± 90 h, consisting of 795 ± 88 h (92%) of endurance training, 53 ± 17 h (6%) of strength training, and 13 ± 14 h (2%) of speed training. A pyramidal (asymptotic) endurance training distribution was employed (i.e., 88.7% LIT, 6.4% MIT, and 4.8% HIT). Out of this, 50–60% of the endurance training was performed with double poling (DP), typically in the form of a daily 3- to 5-h session. A relatively evenly distributed week-to-week periodization of training load was commonly used in the general preparation period, whereas skiers varied between high-load training weeks and competition weeks, with half the training volume and a reduced amount of DP during the competition period.Conclusions: To match the specific demands of long-distance cross-country skiing, specialized long-distance skiers perform relatively long but few training sessions and use a pyramidal intensity distribution pattern and a large amount of training spent using the DP technique.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.641389/fullXC skiingendurance trainingstrength trainingspeed trainingdouble poling |
| spellingShingle | Per-Øyvind Torvik Guro Strøm Solli Guro Strøm Solli Øyvind Sandbakk The Training Characteristics of World-Class Male Long-Distance Cross-Country Skiers Frontiers in Sports and Active Living XC skiing endurance training strength training speed training double poling |
| title | The Training Characteristics of World-Class Male Long-Distance Cross-Country Skiers |
| title_full | The Training Characteristics of World-Class Male Long-Distance Cross-Country Skiers |
| title_fullStr | The Training Characteristics of World-Class Male Long-Distance Cross-Country Skiers |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Training Characteristics of World-Class Male Long-Distance Cross-Country Skiers |
| title_short | The Training Characteristics of World-Class Male Long-Distance Cross-Country Skiers |
| title_sort | training characteristics of world class male long distance cross country skiers |
| topic | XC skiing endurance training strength training speed training double poling |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.641389/full |
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