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Alpine skiing has been a popular activity since the 1950s. However, global warming leads to milder weather, melting glaciers, and reduced snowfall which deteriorates possibilities to skiing. The purpose of this paper is to sketch a contemporary history of alpine skiing and environmental awareness in Sweden through the narratives of ten alpine skiers. A temporal and spatial perspective contributes to make changes over time and meaning of places visible. The skiers share a fixed narrative: nature as central for skiing. This is not unproblematic since nature has been more adapted and modified and resulted in a crowded landscape. Nature is a space to be preserved but also as a space to enable skiing. In this constructed landscape, over time snowmaking is reconstructed to being normal, albeit not natural. A way to handle these changes is to care more for nature, travel less, ski more local, and show environmental awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nLay summary\nIMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICEThe potential performance benefit of an external focus of attention remains unexamined for skilled junior performers, especially those executing ballistic, whole-body continuous movements. Skilled junior skiers (Mage = 14.09) completed slalom runs under external focus, internal focus, and control focus conditions. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference between attentional foci on performance times. Our data challenges the commonly held belief regarding the superiority of an external focus. Instead, we offer researchers and practitioners a more nuanced discussion concerning possible distance effects (proximal vs. distal) associated with external foci in skilled junior performers executing ballistic, whole-body movements.Skilled skiers completed slalom runs while focusing on rotating their skis (external), ankles (internal), and performing to their best ability (control). We uncovered no significant differences between conditions. We argue that the external focus failed to support automated processing because the attentional cue was too proximal for our skilled performers.Encouraging skilled junior performers to adopt a proximal external focus while executing ballistic, whole-body continuous skills does not necessarily benefit performance.Skilled junior performers may benefit from a (more) distal external focus when developing motor skills that are not automated.Due to the lack of performance benefits and potential risk associated with an internal focus, practitioners are discouraged from promoting this type of focus with their athletes.Encouraging skilled junior performers to adopt a proximal external focus while executing ballistic, whole-body continuous skills does not necessarily benefit performance.Skilled junior performers may benefit from a (more) distal external focus when developing motor skills that are not automated.Due to the lack of performance benefits and potential risk associated with an internal focus, practitioners are discouraged from promoting this type of focus with their athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the last decade, a growing body of research has focused on the many aspects and challenges of combining parenthood with elite sport. Although the number of father-athletes is significantly higher than the number of mother-athletes, few studies to date have focused on male athletes' experiences in a parenting context. Aim: The aims of the present study were to explore how father-athlete challenges manifest among elite Nordic skiers in Norway, and to better understand how male athletes balance their priorities as they initiate, maintain, and/or discontinue their athletic career as a father-athlete. Methods: Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 world-class male Nordic skiers in Norway (3 athletes without a child, 4 current father-athletes and 3 former father-athletes) and the content was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Four main stages were identified in the father-athlete transition: (a) Expecting incompatibility (b) Taking the step, (c), The first blow, and (d) Finding the optimal balance. Through these stages the informants expected/had experienced challenges such as performance decline, disturbed sleeping patterns, fear of sickness and role conflicts. To manage these challenges, the father-athletes had developed various strategies to balance their dual roles (e.g., adapting training and competition seasons). Among the benefits, the father-athletes mentioned that they had become more structured, time efficient and ruthless with their priorities, enhanced motivation to train and a better work-life balance. Conclusion: This study offers valuable insights into father-athlete challenges that can be used to support career longevity and work-life balance among male athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patellar tendon (PT) complaints are frequent in competitive alpine skiers and such complaints are characterized by a long-lasting affection. Since PTs are subject to maturation up to 1-2 years after growth spurt, this early career stage may be decisive for the further course of complaints. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of PT complaints and shear wave velocity patterns among competitive alpine skiers during a 4-year post-growth spurt follow-up. The PT complaints and SWV patterns of forty-seven skiers were analysed at baseline (i.e., immediately after their peak height growth at 13-15 years of age) and were re-analysed at 4-year follow-up. The PTs were scanned via threedimensional SWE. Symptomatic skiers were identified based on pain sensation under loading and pressure-induced pain around the PT. The prevalence of PT complaints decreased from 29.8% at baseline to 12.8% at follow-up (Pearson's 2 = 9.429; p = 0.002). SWV decreased from the baseline assessment to the follow-up in the proximal and distal regions (p < 0.05). SWV coefficient of variation (CV) in the distal and mid-portion regions was greater at baseline than at follow-up (p < 0.05). At the follow-up assessment, compared to "healthy" skiers, "healed" skiers who recovered from PT complaints had lower SWVs in the proximal region (p = 0.020) and greater SWV CVs in the proximal region (p = 0.028). Moreover, symptomatic skiers had significantly greater SWV CVs in the mid-portion region than did "healthy" subjects with no history of PT complaints (p = 0.020). The average SWV was negatively correlated with the SWV (proximal: r = -0.74, p < 0.001; mid-portion: r = -0.37 p = 0.011; and distal: r = -0.58, p < 0.001). The occurrence of PT complaints decreased over a 4-year post-growth spurt follow-up. "Healed" skiers who were symptomatic at baseline had an even greater average decrease in the proximal and mid-portion SWV than "healthy" skiers with no history of PT complaints. This may lead to the hypothesis that PT complaints in adolescent skiers are not self-eliminating towards the end of adolescence, as at least structural irregularities appear to persist for several years after the onset of initial symptoms. Furthermore, "healed" and symptomatic tendons exhibited increased SWV variability, supporting the hypothesis that SWV CV may provide additional valuable information on the mechanical properties of PTs affected by overuse-related complaints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strategy and marketing of ski resorts in the European Alps are still characterized by growth orientation and the extension of technical snow production to ensure high snow reliability. In contrast, this study hypothesizes that besides a high‐performing ski resort, winter ski vacationists have further expectations for activities during their stay varying by their skiing skill level and personal preferences. The present study surveys 1413 Alpine ski tourists to identify their daily routines, activities, and used ski resort services. The findings uncover significant differences in the activity profiles with six clearly distinguishable guest segments. The results highlight the need for custom‐tailored product development considering the complete set of winter experiences as well as pricing strategies that specifically target the identified segments. Furthermore, the findings underline that ski resort and destination managers need to include daily changes in snow and weather conditions in their strategies considering climate and demographic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an improved retractable body model (IRBM) is established, which has an advantage in simulating the flexion-and-extension motion of skier's legs during carved turning and straight gliding. The trajectory optimization problem for the nonlinear alpine skiing system is transformed into a multi-phase optimal control (MPOC) problem. Subsequently, a constrained multi-phase trajectory optimization model is developed based on the optimal control theory, where the optimization target is to minimize the total skiing time. The optimization model is discretized by using the Radau pseudospectral method (RPM), which transcribes the MPOC problem into a nonlinear programming (NLP) problem that is then solved by SNOPT solver. Through numerical simulations, the optimization results under different constraints are obtained using MATLAB. The variation characteristics of the variables and trajectories are analyzed, and four influencing factors related to the skiing time are investigated by comparative experiments. It turns out that the small turning radius can reduce the total skiing time, the flexion-and-extension motion of legs is beneficial to skier's performance, and the large inclination angle can shorten skier's turning time, while the control force has a slight effect on the skiing time. The effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed models and trajectory optimization strategies are validated by simulation and experiment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate non-specific and ski-specific performance development in male (M) and female (F) peri-pubertal cross-country skiers and to evaluate their relationship with cross-country skiing (XCS) performance and biological maturation within each age category and sex. Methods: Twenty-one and 19 athletes under 14 and 16 years old, respectively (U14 and U16), were tested for biological maturation; non-specific speed, agility, strength, endurance, and balance; ski-specific speed, agility, and endurance. XCS index was considered as average percentage time-gap from the winner in four official races. Sex and age-category effects were verified and a model predicting XCS index was extrapolated for each group. Results: Performance capacities raised across age categories (p < 0.05) except for non-specific speed, agility, balance, and relative arm strength (p > 0.05). F showed advanced biological maturation and greater balance than M (p < 0.05), while M showed higher performance capacities (p < 0.05). XCS index was not related to biological maturation within each group (p > 0.05); its variance was explained by non-specific speed and ski-specific upper-body endurance in M-U14 (p = 0.014), lower-limb strength and ski-specific agility in M-U16 and F-U14 (both p = 0.001), ski-specific upper-body endurance in F-U16 (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Ski-specific performance capacities still develop during peri-puberty, with peri-pubertal M overperforming with respect to F of comparable performance level. XCS index was not influenced by biological maturation withing each age category, but it was rather explained by specific parameters that commonly undergo the "adolescent spurts", accordingly to the average biological maturation level of M and F athletes of each age category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological preparation has taken on a crucial role in today's sports practice. Effective resolutions to the challenges inherent in athletes' psychological preparation require a comprehensive understanding of the key components that constitute the psychological preparation process. This quasi-experimental study aims to first, assess the interrelationships among imagery abilities, physical self-efficacy, and sport performance among a sample of alpine skiers. Secondly, this study sought to assess the effect of a psychological intervention on imagery and self-efficacy, and its impact on their task performance. The proposed hypothesis suggests that integrating imagery and self-efficacy interventions into the training process of alpine skiers will enhance athletes' achievements on the slalom ski track. Seven leading Latvian youth alpine skiers with an average age of M = 17.14 (SD = 1.77) participated in a three-month psychological skill intervention targeting imagery and self-efficacy enhancement, alongside control training sessions on a slalom ski track to evaluate its effectiveness on sport performance. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using questionnaires, revealing significant improvements in imagery abilities and self-efficacy (p < 0.05). Notably, positive interrelationships between imagery abilities, self-efficacy, and sport performance were observed. These findings underscore the efficacy of integrating psychological interventions into the athlete training process and highlight the importance of psychological readiness in optimizing athletic achievements, particularly in dynamic sports like alpine skiing. The study results provide novel theoretical and practical psychological insights into the training process of athletes in sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Troponin I and T are biomarkers to diagnose myocardial infarction and damage. Studies indicate that strenuous physical activity can cause transient increases in these troponin levels, typically considered physiological. However, current data show differences in the exercise-induced increase in troponin I and T in elite athletes. Method: This prospective clinical study aimed to determine troponin I and T levels in 36 top cross-country skiers of the German national team (18 male, 18 female) after a standardized competition load over two days. All study participants underwent a comprehensive sports medical and cardiological evaluation, including ECG and echocardiography. A multivariable regression analysis was utilized to identify possible predictors of increased troponin I levels. Results: Only three male athletes (8.1%) showed an isolated increase in Troponin I (Ø 112.49 ng/L, cut off < 45.2 ng/L), while no increase in troponin T in the study population was detected. Conclusions: The analysis suggested several potential predictors for increased troponin I levels, such as height, weight, weekly training hours, and indications of an enlarged sports heart, though none achieved statistical significance. Knowing the different exercise-induced detectability of the various troponins in the clinical setting is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games has made more people focus on skiing. How to promote the development of ski tourism is the focus of this study. This study explores the relationship between skiers' motivation and tourism intention. Based on social learning theory, the moderating effect of attractive influencers on satisfaction and travel intentions was explored. The results show that perceived ski motivation and affective engagement positively impact perceived value. The perceived value affects tourism intention through satisfaction, and perceived value directly impacts satisfaction and tourism intention. The willingness of skiers to travel will change with the attraction of ski influencers. Furthermore, the study results provide recommendations for enhancing ski destinations and offer suggestions for improving marketing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roller skiing is one primary form of training method as it is an off-snow equivalent to cross-country (XC) skiing during the dry land preseason training, but the results could only be applied to on-snow skiing with appropriate caution. The aim of this present study was to investigate the similarities and differences in roller skiing and on-snow skiing with the diagonal stride (DS) technique. Six youth (age: 14.3 ± 2.9 years) skiers participated in this study. Two high-definition video camcorders and FastMove 3D Motion 2.23.3.3101 were used to obtain the three-dimensional kinematic data. The cycle characteristics and joint angle ROM of the DS technique while skiing on different surfaces were similar. Almost all joint angle–time curves that were obtained from roller skiing showed a moderate-to-high degree of similarity to the angle–time curves obtained from on-snow skiing, except the hip adduction–abduction angle. The differences between roller skiing and on-snow skiing were mainly found in the body and calf anteversion angles, and the joint angles at critical instants. DS roller skiing can simulate DS on-snow skiing to a large extent in youth athletes. The hip movement, knee flexion, and calf anteversion at ski/roller ski touchdown and take-off, pole inclination at pole touchdown, body anteversion angle, and trunk anteversion angle at pole touchdown were the points that required caution when transferring preseason practice roller skiing to on-snow skiing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates empirically how natural snow depth affects the number of downhill skiers. Data include the number of skier visits for the 32 largest ski resorts in Sweden from the 1998/1999 to the 2018/2019 seasons. Results of spatial dynamic estimations show that an increase in natural snow depth in the ski area has a significant negative impact on the number of skier visits in the short term, although the magnitude is small. This implies that a snow deficit leads to increased demand for downhill skiing both directly and indirectly (in the neighbouring areas). The variable snow depth in the neighbouring ski areas is not significantly different from zero, indicating that no spatial substitution takes place. There is, however, a strong positive relationship between skier visits to neighbouring areas, revealing that ski resorts are complements rather than substitutes. The long-term influence of snow depth is not significant, implying that the ski business is independent of variations in snow depth. Instead, the number of skier visits is mainly determined by past visits, revealing a high degree of persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolites play important roles in the modulation of vascular tone, heart rate variability (HRV), and cardiovascular diseases. This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between HRV and the plasma levels of essential acids. Methods: Highly trained cross-country skiers participated in the study (n = 19). Time-domain and frequency-domain HRV analyses were performed. The plasma levels of fatty acids were determined using gas–liquid chromatography. Results: Plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were found to be negatively correlated with resting heart rate (HR) (p = 0.026). The plasma levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) were positively associated with the relative value of high-frequency power (rs = 0.465, p = 0.045) and negatively correlated with the sympathovagal balance ratio (rs = −0.493, p = 0.032) and the absolute and relative values of low-frequency power (rs = −0.490, p = 0.028). The plasma levels of arachidonic acid (ARA) were positively associated with the relative value of high-frequency power (rs = 0.59, p = 0.006) and negatively correlated with the sympathovagal balance ratio (rs = −0.54, p = 0.017) and the relative values of low-frequency power (rs = −0.52, p = 0.022). No correlation was found between n6/n3 and HRV parameters except for HR and pNN50. Conclusions: n-3 PUFAs and ARA play an important role in the autonomic regulation of heart rate in highly trained skiers. Athletes with substantial deficiencies in plasma ALA and excess levels of ARA had increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alpine skiing industry faces a decline in the number of new active skiers, dropouts of the existing active skiers, and a decline in overall participation frequency. Structural leisure constraints can be considered as a form of managerial failure preventing customers from participating in leisure activities. The purpose of this study is to use choice modelling to examine how the marginal willingness to pay for various leisure constraining factors differ and to provide empirical evidence of how pricing could be used as a negotiation instrument to overcome structural leisure constraints. The rationale behind the choice modelling approach is that a respondent chooses from a set of hypothetical scenarios of a product or service that includes various combinations of attribute levels. The findings emphasize that skiing preferences and marginal willingness to pay vary among less frequent, frequent, and very frequent skiers. Price differentiation can be used as an instrument to limit the influence of constraints and help individuals overcome the structural leisure constraints. The study provides valuable implications for practitioners based on an understanding of the price's impact on individuals' choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptability to all types of terrain changes, slopes, and course settings is a key aspect related to the coordinative ability that elite skiers possess. In recent years, several studies have analyzed coordinative aspects of different motor actions via the assessment of movement variability (MV), an indicator of the motor control that assesses movement regularity. The aims of this study were (a) to evaluate the influence of different slopes and slalom (SL) gate offsets on MV and performance and (b) to assess the relationship between MV and performance. Four SL courses were set: a flat-turned (FT), a steep-turned (ST), a flat-straighter (FS), and a steep-straighter (SS). Five elite alpine skiers (21.2 ± 3.3 years, 180.2 ± 5.6 cm, 72.8 ± 6.6 kg) completed several runs at maximum speed for each SL course. A total of 77 runs were obtained. The use of an IMU accelerometer attached to the lower back of skiers measured MV through entropy. The skiers' performance was evaluated with the total time of each run. The one-way repeated measures analysis revealed that the steepness of the slope significantly increases skiers' MV, concretely between FS and ST courses (p = 0.004). Differences at the 10% level have been found between FS and SS and FT and ST courses (p= 0.055 and p = 0.078, respectively). For a given slope, turned courses (FT and ST) tend to produce a higher MV. In addition, faster times correlate with lower MV (r = 0.587, p = 0.01). It has been observed that both steeper and turned courses produce greater MV and that the best performing skiers have lower MV. Determining MV through entropy can be used to assess skiers' expertise regarding different types of slopes and gate offsets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare training characteristics and aerobic power (VO2max) between the most successful junior and senior seasons of world-class crosscountry (XC) skiers and to identify differences between sexes and among sprint and distance skiers. Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on self-reported training and VO2max tests of ten male and seven female world-class XC-skiers, collectively holding 38 Olympic medals. Training was categorized by form (endurance, strength, speed, other) and mode (specific, unspecific) and was divided into low- (LIT), moderate- (MIT), and high-intensity training (HIT). Results: Total training increased by 203 ± 130 h (35% ± 31%, p < .001, large effect) and 78 ± 69 sessions (21% ± 24%, p < .001, very large effect). Junior training volume (658 ± 107 h) did not correlate with senior volume (861 ± 74 h) but correlated negatively with changes in volume (r = -.822, p < .001). No sex differences were observed related to total volume, but distance skiers increased their total volume more than sprint skiers (p = .037, large effect). Endurance training increased by 197 ± 117 h (p < .001; large effect) tied to increased low-intensity training (186 ± 115 h, p < .001; large effect) and moderate-intensity training (13 ± 7 h, p < .001; large effect). Training intensity distribution (% LIT/MIT/HIT) was 91/3/6 in junior and 92/4/4 in senior season. Women demonstrated greater increase of unspecific modes (100 ± 58 vs. 37 ± 44 h, p = .022; large effect) and strength training (25 ± 23 vs. -3 ± 17 h, p = .010, large effect). Men improved absolute (8% ± 5%; p = .009; large effect) and relative VO2max (6% ± 4%; p = .016; large effect) from junior to senior, while women only increased relative VO2max (7% ± 5%, p = .012; large effect). Conclusion: This study provides novel information regarding changes in training characteristics and aerobic power from junior to senior age in world-class XCskiers. Overall, the enhanced training volume during this transition was primarily driven by increased LIT and MIT and the exceptionally high relative VO2max at junior age further increased in both sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare performance, physiological and biomechanical responses between double poling (DP) and diagonal stride (DIA) during treadmill roller skiing in elite male cross-country skiers. Method: Twelve skiers (VO2peak DIAup; 74.7 ± 3.7 ml kg−1 min−1) performed two DP conditions at 1° (DPflat) and 8° (DPup) incline, and one DIA condition, 8° (DIAup). Submaximal gross efficiency (GE) and maximal 3.5 min time-trial (TT) performance, including measurements of VO2peak and maximal accumulated O2-deficit (MAOD), were determined. Temporal patterns and kinematics were assessed using 2D video, while pole kinetics were obtained from pole force. Results: DIAup induced (mean, [95% confidence interval]) 13% [4, 22] better 3.5-min TT performance, 7%, [5, 10]) higher VO2peak and 3% points [1, 5] higher GE compared to DPup (all P < 0.05). DPup induced 120% higher MAOD compared to DPflat, while no significant differences were observed for VO2peak or GE between DPflat and DPup. There was a large correlation between performance and GE in DP and a large correlation between performance and VO2peak for DIAup (all r = 0.7–0.8, P < 0.05). No correlations were found between performance and VO2peak for any of the DP conditions, nor between performance and GE for DIAup (r = 0.0–0.2, P > 0.1). Conclusion: At 8º uphill roller skiing, DIAup induce higher VO2peak, GE, and superior time-trial performance than DPup in elite male skiers. There was no difference between VO2peak or GE between DPflat and DPup. A large correlation was observed between DIAup performance and DIAupVO2peak, while DP performance was best correlated to submaximal GE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enjoying sport is a critical factor in understanding the sources of athletes' enthusiasm for sport, creating enjoyable sport experiences for young athletes, maintaining their participation in sport, and setting specific goals. It is well known that fear of failure is amongst the main motivational problems on the path to achieving set goals. The inability to eliminate the fear of failure can lead to a decline in the level of fulfilment, satisfaction, and pleasure, interfering with the achievement of goals set by the athlete for a specific purpose. From this point of view, the aim of our study is to examine the effects of ski and snowboard athletes' enjoyment of sport and goal orientation on their fear of failure in terms of various variables. This study is quantitative research in which the correlational survey model was applied. The Sources of Sports Enjoyment Scale (SSEE) adapted to Turkish by Çimen and Gürbüz (2008), the Task and Ego Orientation Scale (TEOS) adapted to Turkish by Toros (2004), and The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory translated into Turkish by Kahraman and Sungur (2016) were used. The population of the study consists of ski and snowboard athletes in Turkey, while the sample group consists of a total of 124 ski and snowboard athletes 72 of whom are male and 25 of whom are female randomly selected from various ski clubs. Significant differences were found in all subscales of the participants' gender variable and sports failure scale, and in both sub-scales of participation level variable and goal orientation. Positive moderate linear relationships were observed between sources of goal orientation, ego orientation and enjoyment of sport, and between ego orientation and goal orientation. Regarding the Failure in Sports scale, the female participants who regularly attended the trainings had, on average, higher scores on the "Participation Level" variable and the "Goal Orientation" scale. As the sources of sports enjoyment increase, goal orientation and ego orientation also increase. As ego orientation increases, goal orientation also increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A ski guide's job is to take recreational skiers into avalanche terrain. In this paper, we explore how ski guides make sense of complex social and ecological contexts while planning. Our data arises out of a one-year participant ethnography of ski guiding in Norway, and shows that guides work towards becoming socio-ecologically embedded by making sense of who the clients and what the mountain conditions are, in their determination of where to ski. Our work, through challenging and complementing the decision-making literature, shows how guides notice and act on cues, and through this embed themselves and their clients in the ecological context. We highlight the implications of these findings both for guides working in the outdoors and leisure recreationists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The lumbar multifidus (LMF), as a dynamic stabilizer of the lumbar spine, may play an important role in the prevention of overuse-related back complaints. Hypothesis: LMF morphology is associated with trunk stability and differs between symptomatic and asymptomatic skiers. Study Design: Cohort study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A total of 85 youth skiers (28 females, mean age, 14.7 ± 0.7 years; 57 males, mean age, 14.9 ± 0.5 years) underwent anthropometric assessments, an estimation of biological maturation, a magnetic resonance imaging- and ultrasound-based examination of LMF morphology, and a biomechanical quantification of deadbug bridging stabilization performance. Athletes were categorized as symptomatic if they had registered at least 1 significant overuse-related back complaint episode in the 12 months before the main examination. Results: Male skiers showed a greater LMF size (ie, anatomical cross-sectional area [ACSA]) than female skiers, except for vertebral body L5, where no difference was found (8.8 ± 1.8 cm2 vs 8.3 ± 1.4 cm2, P = 0.18). Conversely, female skiers displayed longer fascicles than male skiers (5.8 ± 0.8 cm vs 5.4 ± 0.8 cm, P = 0.03). Skiers aged under 16 years (U16) skiers had greater values for LMF size and fascicle length than U15 skiers. Maturity offset was associated with L5 LMF size (R 2 = 0.060, P = 0.01), fascicle length (R 2 = 0.038, P = 0.04), and muscle thickness (R 2 = 0.064, P = 0.02). L5 LMF size was associated with trunk stability (R 2 = 0.068, P = 0.01). Asymptomatic skiers showed on average a 12.8% greater value for L5 LMF size compared with symptomatic skiers (P = 0.04). Conclusion: There are sex- and age-related differences in LMF morphology in youth competitive alpine skiers. Moreover, the ACSA at the level of the lumbar vertebral body L5 undergoes changes during biological maturation, shows a small, but significant association with trunk stability, and differs between symptomatic and asymptomatic skiers with back complaints. Clinical Relevance: The observed association of muscle structure (ie, L5 LMF ACSA) with functional aspects (ie, trunk stabilization capacity) and clinical representation (ie, overuse-related back complaints) further highlights the important role of the multifidus muscle for training and injury prevention in youth competitive alpine skiers around the growth spurt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to analyze rest energy expenditure (REE) and energy expenditure (EE) during submaximal exercise in athletes. We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 2014 to 2020 among cross-country skiers in the preparatory phase. Depending on the potential performance, athletes (n = 136) were divided into two groups: I – test completed to the anaerobic threshold (AnT), II – test completed until exhaustion. The present study included the data only up to AnT for a correct comparison of the results. REE was 2058.5 ± 220.5 kcal/day in group I and 2023.1 ± 216.4 kcal/day in group II (p = 0.481) with a significant difference in the respiratory coefficient (p < 0.000). In the REE structure, the contribution of fats and carbohydrates (CHOs) was 69 and 31% in group I, 48 (p = 0.021) and 52% (p < 0.000) in group II. Correlations between VO2rest and REE, as well as the rate of fats and CHOs oxidation at rest were revealed. In groups I and II the VO2AnT (p < 0.000) and relative values of VO2max (p < 0.05) were significantly different. EE up to AnT was 135.9 ± 31.2 and 134.0 ± 23.4 kcal (p = 0.399) for I and II groups. The amount of fats and carbohydrates spent during the test before the AnT was 6.3 ± 2.0 and 20.7 ± 4.4 g in group I and 7.1 ± 1.7 (p < 0.05) and 15.8 ± 5.9 (p < 0.000) g in group II. The present study showed that the 1 : 1 balance of fats and CHOs in the REE structure is a more informative performance marker than quantitative assessment of EE. VO2AnT reduced by 20% relative to VO2max may indicate the functional economization and the body's ability to perform exercise over a long period of time, including anaerobic exercise. Endurance athletes demonstrated the economy of CHOs against active use of fats during submaximal exercise. Complex estimation of performance indicators and EE (including contribution of fats and CHOs) should be considered when studying the performance of athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the training load and performance of Chinese male cross-country skiers in preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The research aims to establish a solid foundation for organising training loads and managing competitive readiness in Chinese cross-country skiing competitions. The study used quantitative data from four Chinese male athletes during the preparation period for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in 2021. The Garmin 945 heart rate monitor was used to observe and document the training load, including factors such as training content, duration, distance, intensity level, and timing. The index test method was employed to assess the athletes' blood index at biweekly intervals. The Chinese skiers underwent a general preparation period that lasted 164 days, a special preparation period that lasted 70 days, and a pre-competition period that lasted 26 days. The overall training volume exceeded that of world-class athletes, with a notable emphasis on terrestrial training. The prevalence of endurance training was lower in comparison to world-class athletes, with a greater emphasis on strength training. The training intensity exhibited a modest increase, with a distribution pattern of low, medium, and high levels of intensity. The frequency of training and land training declined from the general preparation period to the pre-competition period, while the frequency of snow training increased. The intensity of the competition arrangement during the special preparation period was heightened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]