MARCIALONGA THROUGH THE LENS OF...' SCIENCE

Marcialonga and CeRiSM on track last January with the Marcialonga Science research project
First results published after several tests on snow with 21 skiers
The double poling technique, heart and muscles monitored and analysed in depth
Marcialonga Science: a successful debut


The Marcialonga Science project got on track, namely on the Italian XC skiing tracks of Trentino region, last December and January for the first time in history. The project was led by Marcialonga di Fiemme e Fassa OC and the Italian CeRiSM (Sport, Mountain & Health Research Centre) based in Rovereto, and aimed to evaluate and measure the impact of the double poling technique on muscles, fibres and heart of some athletes during and after the Marcialonga ski-marathon, scheduled last 25 January.
A consistent number of measurements were done during the research on 21 volunteer and motivated skiers, who carried out all the tests proposed for the experimentation at the Cross Country Stadium located in Lago di Tesero, at the foot of majestic Dolomites.
The maximal physiological performance of each skier was evaluated in order to determine the metabolic thresholds during an incremental test to exhaustion, using the double poling technique only.
On the race day, the rate of exertion was monitored thanks to a heart rate monitor, a GPS device recorded the pace of the athletes, while a system of accelerometers permitted to scientifically recognise the technique used by the athletes all over the track. These measurements demonstrated that also non top-level skiers use the double poling technique for 93% of the entire Marcialonga track, the double poling with kick for 2% and the diagonal stride for the remaining 5%. The heart rate was higher than the heart rate values of the second ventilatory threshold for the 40% of the race, between the first and the second ventilatory threshold for the 57% of the competition.     
The Marcialonga Science research project was supported by the University of Verona, Milan and Turin plus local Marcialonga staff and Guardia di Finanza police members. As a matter of fact it was a clear successful debut. To be continued…