Introduction: In cross-country skiing, uphill sprinting, bounding, and one-leg hopping is a common dry-land training method to improve skiing performance. However, the impact of different inclines on performance in sprinting, bounding and hopping in this population has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyze the kinematics of sprinting, bounding, and hopping, and the effects of strength, power, and individual ranking on performance in three different inclines. Methods: 14 male elite cross-country skiers performed 15 m sprinting (SPR), five-step bounding (5SB), and five one-leg hops (5OLH) on 0, 7.5, and 15° inclines. Moreover, a mid-thigh pull was used to measure maximal isometric strength and squat jumps (SQJ) and double and single-leg countermovement jumps (CMJ) for power. For kinematics, total cycle time, frequency, contact time, flight time, stride length during sprinting, bounding and hopping were analyzed. FIS-points were used to rank skiers. Results: As expected, incline negatively affected performance in SPR, 5SB, and 5OLH (p < 0.05). At 7.5 and 15° incline, contact time increased in SPR, 5SB, and 5OLH (p < 0.05) and flight time decreased in 5SB and 5OLH (p < 0.05) while remaining unaffected in SPR. Stride length decreased by 25-30% from 0 to 15° in SPR, 5SB, and 5OLH. Strength was correlated to 5SB and 5OLH at 7.5 and 15° (r = 0.60-0.83) while power correlated to SPR at 0 and 15° (r =-0.56- 0.63), 5SB at 0 and 7.5° (r = 0.55-0.64), and 5OLH at all inclines on the non-dominant leg (r = 0.58-0.72). Higher ranked skiers` 5SB were longer at 7.5 and 15° and 5OLH were longer at 15° on the non-dominant leg. Discussion: As incline increases, slower sprint times may be contributed to shorter stride length and increased contact times while shorter bounding and hopping distances to shorter stride lengths and flight times. Maximal strength positively affects bounding and one-leg hopping and power affect sprinting, bounding, and one-leg hopping performance at steeper inclines. Uphill bounding and one-leg hopping could be useful training methods for cross-country skiers.
© Copyright 2012 17th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Bruges, 4. -7. July 2012. Veröffentlicht von Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. / Übersetzt mit https://www.DeepL.com/Translator