SECULAR TRENDS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS IN ELITE YOUTH ALPINE SKIERS: AN ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE IN 2013 AND 2023

Ljubomir Pavlović, Stevan Stamenković, Teja Krajnčić, Blaž Lešnik

DOI Number
https://doi.org/10.22190/FUPES250428004P
First page
029
Last page
035

Abstract


This study compares physical fitness performance and determined secular trends in elite youth alpine skiers tested in 2013 and 2023. One hundred forty elite youth alpine skiers, aged 12 or 13 years, participated in this study. 30 boys and 25 girls were tested (n = 55) in 2013, whereas in 2023 the sample included 47 boys and 38 girls (n = 85). Elite male youth skiers showed a significant change only in speed performance over 20 meters (p < 0.05). In contrast, female skiers demonstrated significant improvements in explosive power, anaerobic performance and speed (all p < 0.05). Over the last decade, elite U12–U13 alpine skiers have maintained or modestly increased most key fitness attributes, with girls showing wider-ranging improvements than boys.


Keywords

skiing, fitness, trends, performance, snowsports

Full Text:

PDF

References


Bertozzi, F., Tenderini, D., Camuncoli, F., Simoni, G., Galli, M., & Tarabini, M. (2023). Assessing sport-related physical fitness in young alpine ski racers: A proposed framework for longitudinal testing. 2023 IEEE International Workshop on Sport, Technology and Research (STAR).

DeCouto, B. S., Cowan, R. L., Fawver, B., Müller, E., Steidl-Müller, L., Pötzelsberger, B., . . . Williams, A. M. (2021). Nationality and sociocultural factors influence athlete development and sport outcomes: Perspectives from United States and Austrian youth alpine ski racing. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(10), 1153-1163. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1861739

Gonaus, C., Birklbauer, J., Lindinger, S. J., Stöggl, T. L., & Müller, E. J. F. i. p. (2019). Changes over a decade in anthropometry and fitness of elite Austrian youth soccer players. 10, 333.

Gorski, T., Rosser, T., Hoppeler, H., & Vogt, M. (2014). An anthropometric and physical profile of young Swiss alpine skiers between 2004 and 2011. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 9(1), 108-116. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0223

Müller, L., Müller, E., Kornexl, E., Raschner, C. J. I. J. o. S. S., & Coaching. (2015). The relationship between physical motor skills, gender and relative age effects in young Austrian alpine ski racers. 10(1), 69-85.

Nevill, A. M., Duncan, M. J., Gaya, A., & Mello, J. B. (2023). Secular trends in the physical fitness of Brazilian youth: Evidence that fitness is declining for the majority but not for a fit minority. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 33(10), 2079-2089. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14440

Steidl-Müller, L., Hildebrandt, C., Ebenbichler, C., Luchner, R., Patterson, C., Müller, E., . . . Raschner, C. (2021). Changes in Anthropometric and Fitness Characteristics Over a Decade of Young Elite Alpine Ski Racers. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 16(1), 124-134. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2019-0889

Steidl-Müller, L., Hildebrandt, C., Müller, E., & Raschner, C. (2020). Relationship of Changes in Physical Fitness and Anthropometric Characteristics over One Season, Biological Maturity Status and Injury Risk in Elite Youth Ski Racers: A Prospective Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010364

Steidl-Müller, L., Hildebrandt, C., Raschner, C., & Müller, E. (2019). Challenges of talent development in alpine ski racing: a narrative review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(6), 601-612. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1513355

Stielow, J. A. (2010). Establishment of Physical Assessment Percentile Ranks for Junior Alpine Ski Competitors.

Sun, J., Liang, H., Wang, L., Chen, Z., Bi, C., & Zhang, F. (2025). Secular trends of physical fitness for college students in Anhui Province over the past decade. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 357. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21613-x

Tomkinson, G. R., & Olds, T. S. (2007). Secular changes in pediatric aerobic fitness test performance: the global picture. Med Sport Sci, 50, 46-66. https://doi.org/10.1159/000101075

Turković, B., Lakota, R., Hodžić, A., & Podrug-Arapović, M. J. H. S. (2020). The contribution of motor skills in predictiing the success of performing the basic elements of alpine skiing. (1).




DOI: https://doi.org/10.22190/FUPES250428004P

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


ISSN   1451-740X (Print)

ISSN   2406-0496 (Online)