Publication details
The relationship between on-water and off-water performance tests in elite canoe slalom athletes
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1589085/full |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1589085 |
| Keywords | canoe slalom; off-water testing; performance testing; physical fitness; whitewater |
| Description | Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between on- and off-water performance tests in canoe slalom.Methods A total of 34 elite canoe slalom athletes, who competed in one of the following categories, namely K1 men (K1M, n = 9), K1 women (K1W, n = 8), C1 men (C1M, n = 9), or C1 women (C1W, n = 8), volunteered for the study. On-water testing consisted of two flat water tests: sprints with turns to both sides (SBS; 2 x 15 m shuttle sprints) and an all-out shuttle test (12 x 15 AOT; 12 x 15 m shuttle sprints). Off-water testing included anthropometric analyses, power output in bench press, pull measurement, and 3 x 200 m performance on a kayak ergometer. Each athlete completed testing over two consecutive days.Results The results showed a significant relationship between the on-water tests (SBS/AOT) and body weight (kg, r = 0.472/0.478), body fat (%, r = 0.451/0.445), Pmax bench press (W, r = 0.748/0.705), Pmax bench pull (W, r = 0.704/0.693), relative Pmax bench press (W/kg, r = 0.735/0.663), relative Pmax in bench pull (W/kg, r = 0.727/0.700), ergo best 200 m (s, r = 0.851/0.884), ergo best mean 200 m (W, r = 0.902/0.922), and ergo 3 x 200 m total time (s, r = 0.842/0.884), determined using the Pearson correlation coefficient.Conclusion Based on the identified relationships, we recommend regular monitoring of the physical fitness levels of canoe slalom athletes using the described off-water tests. These tests can help identify the strengths and weaknesses of athletes, enabling coaches to optimize the training process. |