Abstract

Cross country skiing (XCS) is a sport showing up a large variety and a multiplicity of determinants of performance. There are two basic skiing techniques, the classical and skating style, both including up to five sub techniques. During a rate, all these sub techniques are applied, depending on the shape of the terrain that mostly consists of a mixture of flat parts, steep and moderate up-hills, and downhill segments. The aim of the study was to get detailed information about the development of selected variables of XCS races over the past years in both the classical and skating techniques, for men and women, and in sprint and distance races, and to test the hypotheses that sprint performance is positively related to distance performance and vice versa. Einleitung gekürzt