Heart rate and blood lactate responses during competitive Olympic boardsailing

• Published in: Journal of sports sciences Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 135 - 141
• Main Author: GUEVEL, ARNAUD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis 01-02-1999; Taylor and Francis
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Lactate; Competitive Behavior - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Rate; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Lactic Acid - blood; Male; Olympic Boardsailing; Pumping; Sports - physiology; Statistics as Topic; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Competition; Human; Heart rate; Lactates; Sport; Athlete; Windsurf
• ISSN: 0264-0414; 1466-447X
• DOI: 10.1080/026404199366235

The rules of competitive boardsailing events were changed before the Atlanta Olympic Games. Pumping the sail (pulling repeatedly on the rig) is now allowed and the duration of races has been shortened. Eight members of the French national team (mean age 23+/- 2.7 years) participated in this study. Their cardiac and metabolic responses were assessed by measuring heart rate and blood lactate concentration during various competitive events in two strengths of wind (light vs moderate). Heart rate was higher in light (87.4+/- 4.3% HRmax; mean racing time 37 min) than in moderate wind conditions (82.9+/- 5.3% HRmax; mean racing time 33 min). The mean post-race blood lactate concentration (5.2+/- 1.0 mmol.l-1) was not affected by the wind conditions. Mean heart rate was highest during downwind legs (88.0+/- 3.1% HRmax; duration 7-10 min). The races consisted of two laps, the first of which induced significantly higher cardiac demands than the second. We conclude that the changes to the rules of competitive boardsailing have increased the cardiac and metabolic efforts involved.