1999 Volume 3 Issue 2 Pages 95-102
The purpose of this study was to clarify the energy source contribution in giant slalom (GSL) and slalom (SL) skiing. The subjects were five Japanese male varsity alpine ski racers, ranked in the semi-elite class in Japan. Maximal oxygen intake (〓 O2 max), alactic power, and lactic power were measured in the laboratory. Aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms during and just after SL and GSL skiing were measured by oxygen intake (〓 O2) and blood lactate concentration (LA), respectively. The results showed that the body dimension of the racers in this study were smaller, and that they had lower 〓 O2 max and anaerobic power than the elite world class racers in the previous studies. The contribution of the three energy systems was estimated by measuring oxygen intake during SL and GSL skiing. Approximately 55% of total energy came from the alactic system, 20% from the lactic system and 25% from the aerobic system. Compared to the elite world-class racers in the previous study, our results showed that the racers in this study had less contribution to the lactic system, a higher oxygen expenditure and smaller lactate accumulation.
