The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of skate blade hollow on oxygen consumption during forward skating on a treadmill. Varsity level female hockey players ( n = 10, age = 21.7 yr) performed skating tests at three blade hollows (0.25 in, 0.50 in, and 0.75 in). The subjects skated for four minutes at three submaximal velocities (12, 14, and 16 km/h), separated by five minutes of passive recovery. In addition, a VO^max test was performed on the day that the subjects skated at the 0.50 in hollow. The VOimax test commenced at 14 km/h and increased by 1 km/h each minute until volitional exhaustion was achieved. Four variables were measured for each skating bout, volume of gas expired (VE), volume of oxygen consumed (VO2), heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). No significant differences (pO.05) were found in any of the four test variables (VE, VO2, HR, RPE) across the three skate hollows. These results show that when skating on a treadmill at submaximal velocities, skate blade hollow has no significant effect on VE, VO2, HR or RPE.

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