Abstract Purpose The long program in roller artistic skating is subject to specific regulations and technical requirements that differ from those of the short program, potentially leading to distinct time–motion structures and performance patterns. The present study aimed to characterize the time–motion structure and effectiveness of roller artistic skating free long program. Methods Twenty long programs performed by top-level skaters (10 women and 10 men) were analyzed using an ad hoc observational tool developed in Lince. The duration, frequency, and effectiveness (i.e., correctly performed and without a fall, or not) of each technical element performed (jumps, spins, and footwork) were determined and compared by modality (females vs. males) and competitive ranking (top five vs. bottom five). Additionally, the association between the final score and the elements was analyzed. Results Choreography accounted for 56% of program duration, while jumps were the most frequently performed elements (5.7 ± 0.56) compared with spins (2.3 ± 0.46) and footwork (2.05 ± 0.22). Females were more successful in the jumps (females: 4.90 ± 1.1; males: 3.80 ± 1.03). Spins were more frequent and time consuming by the lower-ranked athletes. Only the frequency, effectiveness, and total time of the spins were associated with the final score. Conclusion The long program in roller artistic skating is characterized by a predominance of choreography and jumps, with a relatively homogeneous time–motion structure among skaters. These findings provide valuable insights for the design of training programs that address the specific demands of the long program. Nevertheless, further research is needed to achieve a deeper understanding of the modality and its performance demands.
Rúa-Alonso et al. (Sun,) studied this question.