Purpose : Association between maximal and explosive strength capacities and cross-country (XC) skiing performance in national- to world-class athletes was investigated. The objective was to evaluate the association of strength capacities and on-snow performance across race formats and terrains in both sexes. Methods : Maximal (1-repetition maximum; 1RM) and explosive strength were assessed in 59 XC-skiers (27 females) during the 2024/2025 season using seated pull-down, triceps press, and half squat tests. Skiing performance was quantified using 963 race results and the International Ski Federation point system. Results : 1RM showed the strongest association with race performance. Neglecting race formats, 1RM explained 18% to 29% of variance in males and 16% to 17% in females. The seated pull-down 1RM showed the strongest association with sprint performance and explained up to 57% of the performance variability in males and 31% in females. In distance races of ≤10 km, strength of this association declined but remained significant (males R 2 = .20; females R 2 = .14), whereas in races >10 km no associations were observed. Course profile modulated these effects: seated pull-down strength explained more variance on flatter courses (males R 2 = .34; females R 2 = .14) than hilly races (males R 2 = 0.17; females R 2 = .11). Triceps press and half squat showed weaker associations with performance, peaking in males’ sprints ( R 2 = .43 and .25, respectively). Explosive strength contributed primarily in males’ upper-body tests ( R 2 up to .41) and shorter races, but not in females. Conclusion : Findings reveal a complex relationship between strength and XC-skiing performance, underscoring the primacy of maximal upper-body strength for sprint and flat-profile races. Strength emerges as a foundational capacity that should be integrated with technical and aerobic training.
Walther et al. (Thu,) studied this question.