Skimo Athlete Fueling And Hydration Knowledge, Practices, And Barriers

Ski mountaineering (skimo) is a unique high intensity endurance sport with races lasting 1.5-3 h in which athletes ascend and descend mountainous terrain. Skiers wear gloves to combat extreme cold and hold ski poles for balance and propulsion. Little is known about skimo athletes' knowledge and current practices of carbohydrate supplementation and hydration or the barriers to achieving ideal nutrition during a race. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify current nutrition knowledge and practices of skimo athletes and the barriers to fueling during skimo events. METHODS: Participants were 18+ years of age and had at least one year of participation in skimo or completion of two individual-style skimo races. A 21-question survey was distributed as a google form to the local community by word-of-mouth, social media, and at regional skimo events to evaluate the experience, knowledge, and practices of skimo athletes about race fueling and hydration. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. RESULTS: Survey respondents (n = 63) reported 4.2 ± 2.7 (mean ± SD) competitive seasons and 4.89 ± 3.68 races per year. A minority (16.4%) had formal sports nutrition education (advanced degrees or certifications), and a majority (81.7%) had self-education (podcasts, scientific literature, books, magazines). Participant responses regarding knowledge of carbohydrate and hydration recommendations per hour for a 1.5 to 3 h event ranged from 30-200 g and 500-1200 mL. Participants reported wide ranges of typical carbohydrate and hydration consumption (0-200 g/h and 32-1200 mL/h). Top reasons for not fueling during racing include cold temperatures (impaired hand dexterity), accessibility issues (gloves), not feeling hungry/thirsty, and high intensity (heavy breathing). CONCLUSIONS: Many skimo athletes lack accurate nutrition knowledge of carbohydrate and hydration recommendations. Additionally, strategies for fueling during skimo need to address the barriers present during a race. Supported by: Funded by the Kreighbaum Endowment