Physiological Responses and Predictors of Performance in a Simulated Competitive Ski Mountaineering Race

Competitive ski mountaineering (SKIMO) has achieved great popularity within the past years. However, knowledge about predictors of performance and physiological response to SKIMO racing is limited. Therefore, 21 male athletes split into two groups (elite: VO2max 71.2 ± 6.8 ml· min-1· kg-1 vs. sub-elite: 62.5 4.7 kg-1) were tested analysed during a vertical race simulation (523 m elevation gain) in laboratory specific ramp test. In both cases, oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), blood lactate cycle characteristics measured. During simulation, elite approximately 5 min faster compared with sub-elite (27:15 1:16 min; 32:31 2:13 p < 0.001). VO2 was higher for (p = 0.046) test at ventilatory threshold 2 0.005) maximum 0.003). Laboratory power output displayed as treadmill speed than (7.4 0.3 km h-1; 6.6 Lactate values Pearson’s correlation coefficient between time parameters highest velocity related (r > 0.6). Elite showed their superiority well While HR analysis revealed similar strain cohorts tests, can be explainable by output. To further push athletes, development named factors like seems crucial.