# Comparative analysis of energy system contributions and physiological profiles in snowboard slopestyle and snowboard cross

## TL;DR

This study compares energy system use and physiological responses in snowboard slopestyle and snowboard cross, showing snowboard cross relies more on anaerobic energy systems.

## Contribution

The study provides a comparative analysis of energy system contributions and physiological profiles specific to two distinct snowboarding disciplines.

## Key findings

- Snowboard cross showed higher glycolytic system contribution and higher lactate and heart rate compared to slopestyle.
- Oxidative and phosphagen system contributions were similar between the two disciplines.
- Total energy consumption was not significantly different between snowboard cross and slopestyle.

## Abstract

Slopestyle and snowboard cross are distinct snowboarding disciplines, each characterized by specific technical elements and differing competition dynamics. Examining the corresponding contributions of energy systems and physiological responses in these disciplines will yield essential foundational data to inform both physical conditioning programs and competitive strategies. This study compares the relative contributions of energy metabolism systems and physiological indices between the two disciplines.

A crossover design was applied to eight elite male athletes registered with the Korea Ski & Snowboard Association; the athletes performed one simulated competition run each for slopestyle and snowboard cross. Oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate concentration (La−) were measured during the runs, and the contribution of each energy system was calculated based on VO2 during exercise (oxidative), peak lactate concentration (glycolytic), and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (phosphagen).

Compared with slopestyle, snowboard cross showed a significantly higher contribution from the glycolytic system (18.6% vs. 12.9%), higher peak lactate concentration (4.17 vs. 3.02 mmol L−1), and higher peak HR (168 vs. 158 bpm; p < 0.05). The mean run times were 66 s for snowboard cross and 75 s for slopestyle. Conversely, the contributions of the oxidative and phosphagen systems in slopestyle and snowboard cross were around 36.2–27.9% and 50.9–53.6%, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two disciplines; the total energy consumption (WTotal) was also similar between the two disciplines (p > 0.05).

Due to repeated high-intensity movements, snowboard cross is associated with a higher physiological load, as reflected by greater reliance on anaerobic glycolysis and higher lactate concentration and peak heart rate, whereas slopestyle tends to emphasize the use of oxidative metabolism owing to the recovery intervals between obstacles. However, this oxidative contribution did not differ significantly between disciplines. These results highlight the importance of establishing customized fitness training and recovery strategies based on the competition characteristics of each discipline.