The physical and anthropometric profiles of adolescent alpine skiers and their relationship with sporting rank.

The aim of this work was to determine the somatotype of national-level adolescent Spanish skiers, to establish the maximum strength and anaerobic power of their legs, and to examine the relationship between these variables and their national ranks. The study subjects were 31 adolescents skiers, of whom 15 were girls and 16 boys; all were 13-16 years old. Their percentage body fat and muscular mass were recorded, as was their ability to jump (countermovement jump [CMJ]), the strength and power of their legs (squat test), and their anaerobic power (Wingate and continuous jump [CMJ30''] tests). The mesomorphic somatotype was the most common among the boys, whereas the endomesomorphic somatotype was the most common among the girls. In the boys, sporting rank was significantly correlated with muscular mass (rs = 0.70; p = 0.003), with the CMJ and CMJ30'' (rs = 0.67; p < 0.01, and rs = 0.59; p < 0.05, respectively), and with the mean power and maximum dynamic strength in the squat test (rs = 0.59; p = 0.017). No such relationships were seen for the girls. None of the Wingate test variables, except for mean power (in the boys only; rs = 0.55; p < 0.05), correlated with sporting rank. The results suggest that power, as measured by the CMJ and CMJ30'', and the strength and power of the legs, as measured by the squat test, are associated with the sporting success of male skiers but not of female skiers. Power, as measured by the Wingate test, cannot be used to predict the performance of either sex.