The present study was carried out in order to describe the physiologic
al profile of top Olympic boardsailors of both genders and to measure
the energy cost during actual boardsailing with particular attention t
o the most demanding conditions. Fourteen elite Olympic boardsailors (
7 males and 7 females) volunteered to participate in the study. Each s
ubject underwent a maximal cycle ergometer test in order to measure (V
) over dot O(2)peak and ventilatory threshold (Tvent). Additionally, a
nthropometric measurements including body fat percentage were taken. T
he cardiorespiratory demand and the energy cost of actual boardsailing
were assessed by means of a very light telemetric device (K2 Cosmed)
which allowed the measurements of (V) over dot O-2, (V) over dot E and
HR. (V) over dot O(2)peak was 63.6 +/- 2.3 ml . kg(-1) . min(-1) (Tve
nt 70 % of maximum) and 49.2 +/- 4.1 (Tvent 60 % of maximum) in males
and females, respectively. The data recorded during actual boardsailin
g show that this sport activity can be classified as aerobic, the (V)
over dot O-2 values being above or very close to those of Tvent values
(75 % and 60 % of the maximum in males and females). Furthermore the
mean blood lactate values obtained at the end of each regatta testing
were 6 +/- 2 mMol . l(-1) in males and 5 +/- 1.5 mMol . l(-1) in femal
es indicating a partial involvement of anaerobic metabolism, which in
some regatta phases could represent a limiting factor for performance.