Effects of Poling Cadence on Physiological Demand in Division-III Cross-Country Skiers

Cadence selection in endurance sports influences energy conservation and mechanical efficiency. Research in cycling and running suggests cadence affects oxygen consumption and lactate production. However, findings are inconsistent across modalities. Its role in double poling needs more exploration. Purpose: To investigate the effects of poling cadence on physiological markers such as volume of oxygen consumed per minute (VO2), blood lactate concentration, and heart rate (HR) during ski ergometry in collegiate cross-country skiers. It was hypothesized that at a fixed power, higher cadences would result in augmented VO2, blood lactate concentration, and HR, and thus worsen exercise economy. Methods: Nineteen NCAA Division III skiers (11 males, 8 females) completed five randomized 3.5-minute stages on a Concept2 ski ergometer (SkiErg) at fixed cadences (40, 47, 54, 60 strokes/min (s/min)) plus one self-selected cadence, all at constant power output. The variables VO 2 , HR, and blood lactate were measured throughout the SkiErg portion of data collection. Data was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with sex-specific comparisons. Results: Variables are reported respective to the following stroke cadences: self-selected, 40, 47, 54, and 60 s/min. Male skiers showed a significant main effect of cadence on percentage of peak VO 2 (67.4 ± 8.5, 66.4 ± 8.7, 68.6 ± 10.0, 69.8 ± 9.9, 70.65 ± 10.3%, main effect p < 0.001). Female skiers exhibited significantly lower VO 2 at 47 s/min compared to 40 (p = 0.025) and 60 s/min (p = 0.042) (67.1 ± 9.2, 66.7± 9.4, 62.6 ± 9.0, 64.5 ± 9.0, 67.0 ± 10.0%). Blood lactate trended lower at lower cadences in males (2.9 ± 0.7, 2.4 ± 0.6, 2.6 ± 1.0, 2.7 ± 0.9, 2.9 ± 1.0 mmol/L, main effect p = 0.062). In females there was no significant effect of cadence on blood lactate concentration (3.1 ± 1.0, 2.7 ± 1.0, 2.9 ± 0.9, 3.0 ± 1.4, 3.3 ± 1.7 mmol/L, p = 0.679). In males self-selected cadence resulted in significantly lower percentage of peak HR at 40 s/min (p = 0.049), 47 s/min (p = 0.021), 54 s/min (p < 0.001), and 60 s/min (p < 0.001) (78.1 ± 6.9, 80.1 ± 7.0, 80.8 ± 7.4, 81.8 ± 6.6, 82.4 ± 7.7 %, main effect p < 0.001). Female participants also showed a significant main effect of lower cadence eliciting a lower percentage of peak HR (80.9 ± 6.8, 82.1 ± 6.6, 81.3 ± 7.0, 82.7 ± 7.0, 83.4 ± 8.2%, main effect p = 0.049). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that poling cadence influences some physiological responses during SkiErg, with faster cadences generally decreasing work economy and increasing physiological demand even when power output is held constant. Further, results suggest that skiers naturally self-select a cadence that minimizes unnecessary cardiovascular strain. Overall, the findings indicate that cadence is a modifiable factor in optimizing skiing economy and performance. Continued research with larger samples, wider cadence ranges, and on-snow validation will help refine evidence-based recommendations for training and technique in cross-country skiing. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2026 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.