EFFECT OF KINEMATIC VARIABLES ON PERFORMANCE IN WOMEN DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY SKI RACE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of uphil l cycle velocity, cycle length, and cycle rate in top U.S. female skie rs during a multiple lap cross-country ski skating race. Eighteen fema le cross-country skiers served as subjects at the United States Women' s 10-km Freestyle 1995 National Championships. The course consisted of two laps of the same 5-km loop. The selected filming section was an 1 1-12% uphill grade approximately 400 m long located at the 2.5- and 7. 5-km mark. The video sector was approximately 12 m long at the conclus ion of the climb. During the climb, the skating technique used by all skiers was the V-1. The results demonstrated that cycle length is posi tively related to cycle velocity during uphill ski skating and ultimat ely translates to faster race times by female cross-country ski racers . Lap 2 cycle velocity and cycle length demonstrated the strongest rel ationship to lap time and total race time. Moreover, cycle rate was no t related to cycle velocity or lap race times and was not different be tween successful and less successful skiers. The slower climbing veloc ity noted during the latter half of the 10-km race was a consequence o f a decreased cycle length and not cycle rate. This suggests that the degree of physical conditioning could be a factor in the ability to ma intain cycle length and thus uphill cycle velocity.