Featured Picture: Katharina Truppe. Supplied by GEPA
With screaming velocity, we’ve watched Alexander Kilde resist G-forces that may squash a lesser particular person. His huge legs, the results of years spent beneath the squat bar, preserve his skis on monitor. If his bulging velocity go well with was inexperienced, he may simply be mistaken for the Unimaginable Hulk. So, one should ask: “Is it nearly energy?” “Does energy win ski races?” Effectively, sure and no! Sure, as a result of ski racers must be robust, however no, as a result of ski racers additionally want endurance.
A conundrum
The problem is to include and stability energy and endurance. These two physiological processes stem from differing types of vitality metabolism, which require completely different coaching approaches and might counteract one another.
Energy
Resisting the extreme exterior forces of a ski flip takes super energy. Preserving the skis fastened to the snow requires energy. Energy mixed with energy will be considered the “fast-twitch” or anaerobic part of coaching. Anaerobic (with out oxygen) means the physique converts vitality with no need oxygen.
Endurance
The successful time in males’s downhill final season ranged from 1:40.04 to 2:22.58 (Beaver Creek & Wengen) with a median of slightly below two minutes (1:56.33). For an occasion this lengthy, oxygen is crucial. That is cardio metabolism, which means the physique produces vitality using oxygen.
Again to the conundrum
In weightlifting, opponents raise a heavy weight as soon as, which doesn’t require oxygen. If the lifter raises the bar extra instances, the load decreases, and finally they’ll must breathe to take care of the demand. Essentially the most thrilling occasions to look at in monitor and discipline are the races starting from the 400-meter hurdles to the 1,500 meters. Because of the demand for velocity and the flexibility to take care of that velocity (endurance), you by no means know who will win till the ultimate 100 meters of the race. The runner who gained the large lead has exhausted their legs and has nothing left for the dash. That is what occurs on the Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen. Watch the ultimate two turns, set extra like a GS, and see the most effective ski racers on the earth snowboarding as if their legs have been manufactured from wooden. They’ve the energy however not the endurance to gas the muscle tissue and use that energy.
Quantity is necessary
To race and prepare, you want reps, which in coaching concept language is known as “quantity.” From Aján to Zatsiorsky, each coaching ebook inevitably begins with a chapter concerning the significance of quantity. With out quantity, athletes restrict their apply. Time that must be spent on the additional run or the additional set finally ends up with the skier on the sofa, channel browsing. In accordance with motor management professional Richard Schmidt, “Apply is a very powerful part in mastering a motor talent.” It’s essential to have quantity to apply.
Open-skilled sport
Alpine ski racers compete in a dynamic, unpredictable, and externally paced surroundings. The ski racer should consistently adapt to the altering situations. Creating abilities for ski racing shouldn’t be like rising your bowling common. Bowling motions don’t range a lot. When you can’t low cost quantity for the closed bowling abilities, the amount wanted within the open-skilled sport of ski racing is exponentially elevated. The extra variables, the higher the required quantity.
Conjugate sequence coaching
Earlier, we famous that the 2 vitality techniques can battle. You’ve gotten by no means seen a muscle-bound marathoner or a thin weightlifter. Ski racers must be a mix of each. Coaching that alternates between emphasis blocks (2–3 weeks) can construct energy or endurance with out compromising earlier positive factors.
Anaerobic glycolysis
There may be an intermediate vitality system. Athletes can prepare this technique after they construct energy and endurance. That sizzling, heavy feeling within the legs and the acute must breathe after a full-length, intense race run is the physique’s want for extra energy and oxygen. That is when the anaerobic and cardio vitality techniques work collectively. This in-between system, when educated (suppose tightly spaced intervals), teaches the physique to make the most of the accrued lactate to supply extra vitality. Anaerobic glycolysis means breaking down glucose with out oxygen, which produces lactate. Although not extremely environment friendly, it nonetheless gives short-term gas. Extra importantly, it permits an athlete to remain in fifth gear via the end line. Athletes should construct this coaching on a basis of energy and endurance.
Backside line
Whereas trying just like the Unimaginable Hulk in your velocity go well with is spectacular, so is standing on the rostrum. Successful a medal requires greater than trying robust—it takes quick snowboarding. Meaning having the endurance to place in lots of coaching runs and the stamina to go full gasoline from begin home to complete line.
Remaining conundrum
The calls for of ski racing require excessive energy for the person flip and the endurance to get to the end line. The problem is balancing the 2 opposing vitality techniques.
