Validation of Off-season Physiological Tests with Ski Ranking in Elite Male Junior Cross-Country Skiing

To validate off-season hysiological test parameters with International Ski Federation's ranking points for distance (FISdist) and sprint (FISsprint) performances as well as create multiple regression models for FISdist and FISsprint. Twenty four elite male Swedish junior cross-country skiers (age: 18.5 + or - 0.9 years [mean + or - SD]) volunteered to the study. During a period of three days (June 5-7th 2011) the subjects completed a test battery consisting of six physiological tests: 3 km flat running time trial (TTRun); 2 min all-out double poling on a ski ergometer (DP120); squat jump (SQJ); general strength (sum of completed repetitions for: chins, vertical situps, and dips) (GS); 2 km moderate uphill double poling roller skiing time trial (TTDP) and 2 km uphill diagonal roller skiing time trial (TTDiag). For FISdist and FISsprint significant correlations were found with TTRun, TTDP and TTDiag (all p < 0.05).