Aim The overall aim of this study was to develop a broader understanding on how to optimize the organization of aerobic endurance training programs, and especially how to better organize high-intensity training (HIT) and low intensity training (LIT) to give an optimum endurance performance progress. Method This study compared the effects of two different training organization methods in trained cross-country (XC) skiers and biathletes. During a 5 week intervention period, one group of athletes (n = 10, 7 men and 3 women, age 23 ± 9 years) performed block periodization (BP) training with 5-1-3-1-1 HIT sessions in the respective weeks. The other group of athletes(n = 9, 7 men and 2 women, age 22 ± 5) followed a more traditional periodization (TRAD) method performing 2-2-3-2-2 HIT sessions. LIT was interspersed between the HIT sessions so that both groups performed similar total volumes of HIT and LIT during the intervention period. Results The BP group increased relative and absolute VO2max (2.6 ± 3.6% and 2.0 ± 2.5%, P < 0.05) and time to exhaustion (6.1 ± 6.4%, P < 0.01). No changes were seen in the TRAD group on relative or absolute VO2max (0.8 ± 3.5% and -0.1 ± 3.0%) or time to exhaustion (-2.0 ± 7.7%). Mean effects size (ES) of the relative and absolute improvement in VO2max and time to exhaustion revealed small to moderate effects of performing BP training vs. TRAD training (ES range from 0.51 to 1.14). Conclusions This study indicates that organizing endurance training in XC skiers with block periodization training give better adaptations compared to performing traditional periodization training during a 5 week training period when performing similar volumes of high-intensity and low intensity training.

This thesis examined how cross-country skiers perceive and prepare for winter hazards. A self-completion questionnaire was administered to cross-country skiers in northern Utah. The questions on the questionnaire were designed to explore the relationships that affect how skiers perceive and prepare for winter hazards. Additionally, the situation where skiers put themselves at risk due to lack of information as opposed to skiers placing themselves at risk through the desire to confront nature's dangers was explored. Variables that were contained in these relationships were correlated and the degree of correlation was measured. Those that sought information on the day surveyed were more likely to perceive and prepare for winter hazards than those that didn't seek information. Additionally, experienced skiers were more likely to perceive and prepare for winter hazards. However, experienced skiers were more likely to be involved in other risk recreation activities and to consider risk important in their ski experience than less experienced skiers. Skiers that believed skiing to be central to their life interests were more likely to seek avalanche hazard information and be more prepared than those that didn't seek avalanche information. Results suggest more research is needed to determine the most effective techniques of disseminating hazard information to cross-country skiers. Moreover, different survey techniques, such as naturalistic inquiries, should be used to extract hazard perception and preparation information from skiers.

XXI olimpinės žiemos žaidynės, vykusios 2010 metais Kanados Vankuverio mieste buvo jau šeštos, kuriose startavo Lietuvos sportininkai. XIX olimpinėse žiemos žaidynėse Solt Leik Sityje 2002 metais pirmą kartą į slidinėjimo lenktynių programą buvo įtrauktos sprinto lenktynės, o XX olimpinėse žiemos žaidynėse Turine buvo vykdomos individualios ir komandinės sprinto lenktynės. Vankuverio žiemos olimpinėse žaidynėse Lietuvos slidininkai pirmą kartą startavo komandinio sprinto rungtyje. Šioms sprinto rungtims Lietuvos slidininkai rengėsi specialiai, vykdydami programoje „Vankuveris-2010“ numatytus uždavinius. Vankuverio žiemos olimpinėse žaidynėse tiriamųjų slidininkų sprinterių pasiekti rezultatai sprinto distancijose buvo įvertinti patenkinamai. Tyrimo tikslas ir uždaviniai - ištirti Lietuvos didelio meistriškumo slidininkų sprinterių rengimo ypatumus metiniu priešolimpiniu ciklu, nustatyti Lietuvos slidininkų sprinterių fizinio išsivystymo, fizinių ir funkcinių galių rodiklių kaitą metiniu rengimosi ciklu, apibendrinti Lietuvos slidininkų sprinterių varžybų sezono rezultatus. Slidininkų sprinterių rengimo technologija iš esmės skiriasi nuo slidininkų rengimosi ilgesniems nuotoliams. Visgi tai reikėtų pagrįsti moksliniais tyrimais. Buvo organizuotas dviejų Lietuvos slidininkų sprinterių veiklos tyrimas. Išanalizuotas fizinis krūvis, atliktas metiniu treniruočių ciklu. Atskirų mezociklų veiksmingumui įvertinti buvo atliekami laboratoriniai tyrimai. Buvo matuojami fizinio... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / XXI Olympic Winter Games were held in 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. That was already the sixth Games for the Lithuanian athletes. First time individual sprint was included in the cross-country skiing program in XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002, after four years in XX Olympic Winter Games in Turin the cross-country skiing program had two sprint events: individual and team sprint. Lithuanian cross-country skiers first time took part in the team sprint event in Vancouver Winter Olympics Games. Lithuanian skiers were prepared specifically for the performance of the program "Vancouver-2010" objectives. The results of the Lithuanian skiers in individual and team sprints events in Vancouver Winter Olympics were assessed as satisfactory. The aims and objectives of research - to explore the cross-country skiing training program features of Lithuanian athletes in the last training macrocycle before Olympics, to estimate changes of physical and functional characteristics of Lithuanian cross-country skier’s sprinters physical development on preparations for the macrocycle, and summarize the results of Lithuanian skiers. Training Technology of cross-country skiers sprinters is basically different than cross-country skiers of longer distant. However, it should be based on scientific research. Sports action research of two Lithuanian cross-country skiers’ sprinters was organized. physical activity of training macrocycle were analyzed. Laboratory tests were conducted to... [to full text]