Ski mountaineering is a popular winter recreation sport that is quickly gaining importance and
recognition in the competitive world. Competitive ski mountaineering is set to be included in the
2020 Youth Olympic Games and in the Olympics as a test sport. Ski mountaineering is a timed
race done on an established track using light equipment designed specifically for the sport.
Research is lacking on most aspects of the sport, especially the physiological variables that
influence race performance. The purpose of this study was to develop an exercise testing
protocol that simulates a ski mountaineering race. There were lab and field portions of this study.
For the lab portion, subjects completed a ten stage graded exercise test on a large treadmill with
roller skis that consisted of five-minute stages starting at 2 mph and 12% grade and increasing
speed by 0.2 mph and grade by 2% each stage. The field test was a race simulation and involved
two skinning and one bootpack intervals at race pace. Each interval consisted of 600 feet of
vertical elevation gain with an average gradient of 20% for the two skinning intervals and 30%
for the bootpack interval. VO2 and heart rate were taken continuously throughout both tests
using a Cosmed K5 portable metabolic cart. Lactate and rate of perceived exertion were taken at
the end of each stage during the laboratory test and at the end of each uphill interval during the
race simulation. Pearson’s R-Test was used to examine the relationship between the lab and field
results. There were strong significant correlations between lab and field results in terms of VO2
and heart rate, indicating that the developed lab test accurately predicts performance in a ski
mountaineering race. The lab test can be used to stratify ski mountaineers into skill levels, which
will allow for the inclusion of varying skill levels and a higher volume of athletes in ski
mountaineering races and the development of athlete-specific training programs as a result of the
specific physiological data the test provides.
