Staib, J. L., Im, J., & Rundell, K. W. (1999). Comparison between short-term upper body power and double-pole peak VO2 in cross-country skiers. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 31(5), Supplement abstract 337.

Top US cross-country ski racers (N = 23) completed an upper body power test and a double-poling test to exhaustion.

Upper body power was found to contribute significantly to double-poling performance. However, double-poling VO2peak accounted for twice as much variance as did the power variable. Although previous investigations have shown upper body power to be a significant factor in double-poling ski racing, VO2peak in a double-poling task is the much better predictor of actual race performance.

Implication. Strength and power might be significant factors in endurance race performance, but they are not as good for predicting aerobic performance than a sport-specific measure of aerobic capacity or peak aerobic capacity.

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