Bodyweight and Skierg Performance Potential

[Leo Young]

Contrary to some previous suggestions by some forum members, the degree of potential advantage of larger athletes, as normally experienced on the rower, is significantly decreased on the Skierg.

The link below to Calbert et al. is one of a number of studies that have shown that during double poling, slightly more or roughly equal oxygen/energy is still delivered and used by the legs compared to the contribution by the arms. See figure 3 on page 324.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article ... 8-0319.pdf

It is important to understand, that on the rowing ergometer, all other things being equal, during aerobically limiting efforts, performance in time is equal to bodyweight (BW) expressed to the power of 0.222, i.e. BW^0.222 (based on maxVo2 being equal to BW^0.667 and flywheel speed being equivalent to power(watts)^0.333). The advantage of larger athletes during purely alactic (phosphate energy system) limiting efforts of say less than 10 seconds is significantly higher at BW^0.333 (as alactic power is equal proportional to weight). In a 500m effort, where anaerobic power (phosphate and lactic power) is a significant contributor, although still not as limiting as the combined contribution to performance, of lactic acid tolerance and aerobic power, than something roughly like BW^0.259, might be appropriate if we hypothesised that lactic power, lactic acid tolerance and aerobic power, all roughly contribute to performance equally.

However on the Skierg, if we assume that approximately half of the effort is expended in the recovery phase by the legs and only half of the effort actually contributes to driving the flywheel (the upper body’s contribution), then the formulae normally applicable to rowing change significantly. BW^0.222 is still the advantage larger athletes have in driving the flywheel, during aerobic efforts, but small athletes have a significant relative physiological advantage during the recovery phase. During the recovery phase the aerobic advantage potential, for smaller athletes, all other things being equal, is equivalent to BW^-0.333, equal to BW^-0.111 in terms of its indirect subsequent effect on flywheel speed. The net effect is that during aerobically (and lactate acid tolerance) limiting efforts the larger athletes advantage is possibly reduced to as little as BW^0.111.

[NELSON]

Leo,
Man, that is a very detailed and scientific study, beyond my comprehension. But I am going to disagree on a simple layman's experience, based on the rowers & skiergers in my club & our actual performance times . The differences between our heavy vs our lightweights are so much greater on the skierg than on the rowers. That is a very real performance output.
The only way I would believe in that study is that it has to have a real row/skierg performance: htwt vs ltwt, row vs skierg times & the fall off in numbers between the two divisions.
I have a love/hate relationship with this machine, it is great. I still say a big upper body, the big barrel chest guys, has the advantage. When you are pulling down your full upper body weight, waist to shoulders, are also helping propel that pull downward.
Hey, this is great stuff.

[Leo Young]

Nelson,

Whilst larger athletes obvioulsy still have a significant avantage on the skierg, the point is that the advantage is quite likely about half of what it is on the rower.

Interestingly, your own times on the rower and skierg actually add significant weight to the argument. As a light lightweight of only 63.5kg, your 1000 meter skierg time is only 11.8% slower than your rowing times, as opposed to an elite heavyweight rower like Dave Gray (age 50), who at a bodyweight of 104kg and with a world class 2000 meter row time for his age of 6:13.1, has a skierg time for 2000 meters of 7:45.2, or 24.7% slower. A statistical analsis of comparative times, shows a good line of best fit that clearly demonstrates that, on average, the comparative differences between row and ski times diminish as the athletes get lighter.

Nevertheless, a powerful lower body is required for good rowing performance, whist obviously a powerful upper body is critical for ski double poling performance.

By the way, your successful comeback from cancer is inspirational stuff and I hope you keep going from strength to strength. Thanks for the feedback.

[NELSON]

Leo,

Ok! Ok! You won me over, even I cannot argue with real numbers, ones that I can understand. At least we both agree, that a big upper body does wonders for the skierg numbers.

Hey, thanks for the kind words in regard to my cancer battle. It is ongoing, they classify me as a chronic case. At this time, they cannot cure or put my cancer in remission. The most they can do is continue to pump the chemo drugs into me and hope the next best solution is right around the corner. We hope the cancer cell does not become resistance to the chemo cocktail that is currently available to me.

Oh well, what is a confirmed C2 guy to do except continue to row & skierg.

Later,
Live well & strong, my friend