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The short-term development of performance and aerobic endurance following prolonged low-intensity ski trekking in Svalbard: A case study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2022

Even Jarstad Open the ORCID record for Even Jarstad [Opens in a new window]  and
Asgeir Mamen
Even Jarstad*
Affiliation:
Norwegian Sport Medicine Clinic (Nimi, part of Volvat), Department of Cardiology and Exercise Physiology, Vitaminveien 1A, 0485Oslo, Norway Kristiania University College, School of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 1190 Sentrum, 0107Oslo, Norway
Asgeir Mamen
Affiliation:
Kristiania University College, School of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 1190 Sentrum, 0107Oslo, Norway
*
Author for correspondence: Even Jarstad, Email: evenjarstad@gmail.com
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Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to examine the short-term development of performance and aerobic endurance following prolonged low-intensity ski trekking (LIST) in an Arctic region. Two male recreational athletes (aged 24 and 26 years) with high aerobic fitness performed LIST 7 ± 2 h·day−1 for 23 consecutive days, while hauling sledges (∼80 kg initially) with supplies from the north to the south of Svalbard (∼640 km). Time to exhaustion, maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), lactate threshold (LT) and work economy were evaluated at pre- and post-trek. The results showed that the absolute and relative exercise intensity during LIST were ∼3.9 km·h−1 and ∼60% of maximal heart rate, respectively. Time to exhaustion during a ∼4–6 min ramp walking test, and a >45 min stepwise walking test, while pulling 12.5 kg weights (simulation of ski trekking with loaded sledge), increased by 11–17% and 3–9%, respectively, following LIST. Body mass and V̇O2max relative to body mass (ml·kg−1·min−1) decreased by 5–8% and increased by 3–8%, respectively. Furthermore, the workload associated with LT and LT percentage of V̇O2max increased by 39–69% and 12–13%, respectively. No notable change in work economy was observed. The mean pace during LIST (∼3.9 km·h−1) corresponded to the treadmill walking speed (4 km·h−1) with the lowest oxygen cost (mL·kg−1·m−1) in both participants. It can be concluded that short-term prolonged LIST can improve ski trek-simulated performance and fractional utilisation of V̇O2max in recreational athletes with high aerobic fitness. Moreover, highly aerobically fit ski trekkers appear to instinctively choose the most energy-efficient pace during LIST.

Keywords

Polar expeditionLow-intensity exerciseTime to exhaustionLactate thresholdWork economy
Type
Research Note
Information
Polar Record , Volume 58 , 2022 , e21
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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