A Robert

Evaluation of young cross-country skiers by running and roller-skiing tests

Summary This study was unidertaken to compare hormonal and bioenergetic responses between treadmill running and roller-skiing in eight young cross-country skiers ( ± = 13.6 ± 0.5 yrs), during two progressive and maximal tests. At the end of the first running test on treadmill, peak values of heart rate and blood lactate concentration averaged 202.6 ± 10.3 bpm and 9.71 ± 2.23 mmol·L −1 respectively; maximal oxygen uptake was determined by Douglas bag method and reached 61.1 ± 9.5 mL·kg −1 ·min −1 . The graded and maximal roller-skiing test was performed 1 or 2 weeks later. It took place on a flat road and the speed was increased every two minutes until exhaustion; the skiers had to use the diagonal stride technique. At the end of this test, peak heart rate (194.9 ± 7.7 bpm), and peak blood lactate concentrations (5.29 ± 2.05 mmol·L −1 ), were significantly lower than at the end of treadmill test ( P s P s P s