Purpose The balance of low- and high-intensity training, reflecting aerobic and anaerobic capacities, respectively, varies by sport and discipline. Yet their specific contributions in male flat-water kayaking remain poorly understood. This study aimed to describe the relationship of anthropometric parameters and aerobic and anaerobic indicators to the performance of elite flat-water kayakers. Methods Twenty-five male elite kayakers were categorised into national and international competition levels. For aerobic capacity, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was measured using spiroergometry, while anaerobic capacity was assessed using the Wingate upper arm test, determining relative peak power (PP) and relative mean power (MP) in W/kg. Concurrently, blood lactate concentrations were measured post-exercise. Results No significant differences were determined in anthropometric parameters and VO2max from the spiroergometry between the national- and international-level kayakers. However, the Wingate upper arm test results revealed that international kayakers, including an Olympic champion, exhibited significantly higher maximal power output, represented here by PP (10.43 ± 0.80 W/kg) compared to their national counterparts (9.69 ± 0.52 W/kg). Moreover, significant positive correlations were found between PP and MP with the blood lactate concentration post-exercise. Conclusions The findings suggest that the ability to generate maximal power output and maintain high-intensity anaerobic power might be the decisive factors determining the top elite performance in flat-water kayaking, especially at shorter race distances. The study’s results highlight the critical balance between anaerobic and aerobic capacities in elite flat-water kayaking and encourage coaches to incorporate targeted training regimens to enhance anaerobic strength.
Mika et al. (Thu,) studied this question.