Technological advances in cross-country ski equipment.

Nordic skiing has a long history dating back to at least 2500 B.C. It is not surprising then that skiing equipment has undergone many changes. Today's skis, poles, and boots use the latest in space-age synthetics including carbon and Kevlar fibers, which has resulted in an unprecedented advance in ski equipment technology, producing ultralight yet strong equipment. These changes have played an important role in bringing about an improvement in racing performance with today's skiers being able to ski a course in half the amount of time that it would have taken just 60 yr ago. Estimates indicate the change in mass of racing equipment accounts for a relatively small amount (12%) of the improvement in race performance with changes in the functional characteristics of equipment, track preparation, and training practices being responsible for the remaining 88%. In addition to improvements in ski equipment, advances are being made in developing laboratory equipment used to assess an athlete's upper body power and endurance capacities. Lab testing with an arm ergometer showed its utility when it exposed a glaring deficiency in upper body power among a group of U.S. developmental skiers. Further improvement in ski equipment and lab testing tools are expected in the future as the worldwide technological revolution continues and Olympic Teams and sports science groups continue to work cooperatively.