Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare the effect of using ski-mountaineering equipment (skis, bindings, boots) of different weight on the energy cost of skiing locomotion. Six ski-mountaineers performed 6 randomly assigned conditions (locomotion at level and at 20° slope with three sets of ski-mountaineering equipment of different weight) on natural snow.
Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test the effect of the equipment on heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2), ventilation (VE) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER). There was a significant effect (p < 0.001) of the ski equipment for all physiological variables (HR, VO2, VE, RER) on the 20° slope and for VO2, VE (p < 0.05) on the level terrain.
The relative contribution of weight (with respect to the total body weight) to the VO2 increase at the 20° slope can be expressed by the equation: % VO2 = 1.97 • % weight. The current study showed a substantial effect of the equipment weight on the energy cost of ski-mountaineering.