Sex-based differences in sub-technique selection during an international classical cross-country skiing competition

PLoS One. 2020 Sep 29;15(9):e0239862. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239862. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare speed, sub-technique selection and temporal patterns between world-class male and female cross-country (XC) skiers and to examine the combined associations of sex and speed on sub-technique selection. Thirty-three XC skiers performed an international 10-km (women; n = 8) and 15-km (men; n = 25) time-trial competition in the classical style (with the first 10 km of the race being used for analyses). An integrated GNSS/IMU system was used to continuously track position speed and automatically classify sub-techniques and temporal patterns (i.e. cycle length and-rate). When comparing the eight highest ranked men and women, men spent less time than women (29±2 vs. 45±5% of total time) using diagonal stride (DIA), more time (44±4 vs. 31±4%) using double poling (DP) and more time (23±2 vs. 19±3%) using tucking and turning (all P < .01). Here, men and women used these sub-techniques at similar temporal patterns within the same speed-intervals; although men employed all sub-techniques at steeper uphill gradients (all P < .05). In subsequent analyses including all 33 skiers, adjustment for average racing speed did not fully attenuate the observed sex differences in the proportion of time using DIA (CI95% [-10.7, -1.6]) and DP (CI95% [0.8, 9.3]). Male world-class XC skiers utilized less DIA and more DP compared to women of equal performance levels. Although these differences coincided with men's higher speed and their ability to use the various sub-techniques at steeper uphill gradients, sexual dimorphism in the proportional use of DIA and DP also occurred independently of these speed-differences.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletes
  • Athletic Performance
  • Competitive Behavior
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Physical Conditioning, Human / methods*
  • Physical Conditioning, Human / standards
  • Sex Factors
  • Skiing / physiology*

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the authors internal institutions. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The authors internal institutions: Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Bodø, Norway Centre for Elite Sports Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS, Bergen, Norway Cardiac Exercise Research Group, Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, Oslo, Norway.