Abstract

The energy cost of alpine skiing was evaluated in all - out special slalom, SS, and giant slalom, GS, on 8 top male athletes and on 5 controls (constructors for GS only) in a field study. O2 uptake, VO2, was measured during the task (55 s for SS and 70 s and 77 s for athletes and controls respectively for GS) and during the first 2 minutes of recovery, when the alactic O2 debt is paid. On the basis of an energy equivalent of 3.15 ml O2/kg/BW per 1 mmol/l lactic acid accumulation, lactate O2 equivalent was calculated from peak blood lactate at the 5th minute of recovery. Net VO2 during the task averaged 2.64 +/- 0.50 and 2.24 +/- 0.58 l for SS and GS respectively (2.33 +/- 0.27 l for controls). The alactic O2 debt was 1.72 +/- 0.33 and 2.21 +/- 0.33 l respectively for SS and GS (1.80 +/- 0.39 l for controls). The lactic O2 equivalent was 2.92 +/- 0.65 and 3.02 +/- 0.56 l for SS and GS respectively (1.98 +/0.90 l for controls). It is concluded that: a) when referred to unit time, the energy cost of SS is about 20 higher in athletes than in controls; b) in top athletes, the glycolytic contribution is about 40 in both SS and GS; c) the high glycolytic contribution depends on the extremely high energy cost of such activity, and partially on a relevant isometric contraction component. Verf.-Referat