Velocity-Load Jump Testing Predicts Acceleration Performance in Elite Speed Skaters: But Does Movement Specificity Matter?

Purpose: In this study, we compared the influence of movement specificity during velocity-load jump testing to predict on-ice acceleration performance in elite speed skaters.

Methods: Elite long-track speed skaters (N = 27) performed velocity-load testing with 3 external loads during unilateral horizontal jumping, lateral jumping, and bilateral vertical countermovement jumping. For the unilateral tests, external load conditions were set to 10 N, 7.

Modeling the Early and Late Acceleration Phases of the Sprint Start in Elite Long Track Speed Skaters.

Zukowski, MH, Jordan, MJ, and Herzog, W. Modeling the early and late cceleration phases of the sprint start in elite long track speed skaters. J Strength Cond Res 38(2): 236-244, 2024-This study established the reliability of an exponential function to model the change in velocity during the speed skating sprint start and the validity of associated model parameters in a group of subelite and elite long track speed skaters.

Single Leg Lateral and Horizontal Loaded Jump Testing: Reliability and Correlation With Long Track Sprint Speed Skating Performance.

Zukowski, MH, Jordan, MJ, and Herzog, W. Single leg lateral and horizontal loaded jump testing: reliability and correlation with long track sprint speed skating performance. J Strength Cond Res 37(11): 2251-2259, 2023-This study examined the intraday reliability of 2 novel unilateral loaded jump protocols designed for long track speed skaters.