Skating in high Altitude. Why?

[Peter_K]

I keep wondering why the USFSA insists on holding competitions in high altitudes and why the ISU lets them?

During the ABC coverage of the GFP, they pointed out how dangerous and diffucult the high altitude made things on the skaters. Am I the only one who thinks that needing to have oxygen tanks at rinkside to prevent the athletes from keeling over after a program is just plain wrong?

Seems to me, with most of the international skaters training at roughly sea level, would it not just makes more sense to find a venue that comes close?

Maybe I'm missing something, but I always hope when I watch a competition that all the skaters are able to perform to the best of their ability. (And I'm not griping about the result. I'm very proud of Emmanuel.)

--Peter

[NoVa Sk8r]

My sentiments exactly. Plus, can you imagine how those skaters who were recovering from the flu must have felt?

Poor Kevin looked like he was going to collapse on the ice after his performance.

I guess the magic, history, and tradition of Colorado Springs trumps all else...

[Alexa]

I see both sides of the issue, but admit that I have always found it strange to have the competitions in high altitudes when there are so many locations without that issue. It does always seem to affect the majority of the skaters, as many of them do not live or train in high altitude.

With their busy schedules I do see why it would be hard to have time to be comfortable in high altitude if you are not used to it.

[A.H.Black]

I don't see that altitude is any greater factor than, say, different countries, different cultures, different food, bad facilities, cold facilities, bad ice, over warm facilities. All factors are advantages or disadvantages to one skater or another.

The most important competition - the Olympics - is almost always held at some sort of high altitude since host cities have to be somewhat near mountains for skiing. Colorado Springs has been hosting major competitions for over 50 years. Worlds and Nationals have both been held there in the past. This is just one more factor that skaters need to train for.

[Arsenette]

Just be happy that it's indoor.. uh.. remember that for decades the entire competition would have been OUTDOORS and 6k up in the air ;)

[Rapt2Go]

Originally posted by Peter_K

Seems to me, with most of the international skaters training at roughly sea level, would it not just makes more sense to find a venue that comes close?

--Peter

Is this really true? I was wondering about other countries altitudes just the other day. Japan's? Russia's? Italy? etc? Any geography buffs on board?

[Rapt2Go]

Thank you, Bondo! :)

[Peter_K]

Thanks Bondo.

This also begs one to ask just how long it takes for an athlete to become used to the atmosphere. Would a week or two be sufficient?

Also, what would the effect be if the opposite were to happen? That is, you've lived and trained at a high elevation and now you're competing at sea level.

And I'll keep in mind the difference between altitude and elevation.
(one learns something new every day)

--Peter

[Rogue]

I've heard that some athletes prefer to train at high altitude as it gives them an advantage in competition at lower levels. When you have to use your lungs more, they become stronger and give you better stamina. Not sure how true this is, just what I've heard.

[A.H.Black]

P.S. Salt Lake City is also at around 6000ft elevation.


Closer to 4400 feet. Denver and Colorado Springs are both higher.

[A.H.Black]

There are so many skaters who smoke, I always wonder if that has an affect at high altitude, but it's probably not a consistant factor.

[valuvsmk]

Or many of them were just worn out from the relatively compressed schedule of events (and the altitude variance didn't help). JMHO.

[Sk8Bunny]

Originally posted by A.H.Black
There are so many skaters who smoke, I always wonder if that has an affect at high altitude, but it's probably not a consistant factor.

Hmm, Can you verify which skaters smoke? Because all the skaters I know aren't allowed to smoke. Their caoches would probably strangle them if any were ever caught w/ a ciggarete. Smoking and skating are like oil and water, they just dont mix. Most coaches(ie the good ones lol) make sure that their students dont smoke.

[jp1andOnly]

hahaha. There are many skaters that smoke. I know a whole bunch of Canadian and Russian skaters that do.

When skaters are younger coaches may forbid it, however when the skater turns old enough to care for themselves they may smoke.

Not saying all skaters smoke but a handful do. I believe everyone knows Artur Demetriev did and so did Illya Kulik. There are more but those are the ones most people know about.

[A.H.Black]

Hmm, Can you verify which skaters smoke? Because all the skaters I know aren't allowed to smoke. Their caoches would probably strangle them if any were ever caught w/ a ciggarete. Smoking and skating are like oil and water, they just dont mix. Most coaches(ie the good ones lol) make sure that their students dont smoke.

I'm glad to hear that the coaches in your area are that strict. It isn't the case everywhere. I met a former skater at 1998 Nationals who was doing her masters thesis on figure skating, part of it on the health issues associated with skating. She, herself, had just quit smoking and was having a tough time, but succeeding. In the course of our conversations, I asked her to estimated how many of the female figure skaters, at an elite level, smoked. She said about 50%. Since then I have kept my eyes open. There are indeed a great many elite level skaters who smoke. Most of them do it very privately.

[LTM]

Sadly unless a coach is with a skater 24/7 sneaking a cigarette is not out of the question.
And once they are legally adults, a coach could say stop smoking or I won't coach you. But that's about it.
50%. That's high
Just a question? Would it have anything to do with smoking's effect on weight control. A lot of women think it helps keep weight down.
(chemotherapy does to:roll: )
As to the elevation issue, could it be that the skating is season is now so jammed that skaters simply don't have the time to aclimatize
that they used to.

[A.H.Black]

Just a question? Would it have anything to do with smoking's effect on weight control. A lot of women think it helps keep weight down

Exactly.

[Gaela]

Are other drugs used by female skaters to keep the weight down?

I'm thinking high fashion model, can't eat or drink booze, but she can. . .smoke, do coke, and so on?

Though maybe those drugs would show up in doping?

[A.H.Black]

I've always thought that skating did not lend itself to other kinds of drugs. There is too much exact timing involved. Anything that throws off timing would throw off the skating performance.

That said, we all know of at least one skater that has had problems with drugs. I just don't think it's very common or a threat to the sport the way performance enhancing drugs threaten cross country skiing, for example.

[PattyP]

The rink at Squaw Valley is at 8200 ft.! I skated there and was sucking wind just practicing lightly. I tried to imagine what it must have been like to skate a 4 minute program there.

PattyP

[dooobedooo]

I am no athlete (!) but my experience as a recreational skier is that if I take three separated weeks of skiing at high altitude, during the winter season, it seems to keep my tolerance and performance at altitude "topped up" for the next season.

My genetics are all "lowlander"; and the first week after a long break (say a year or two), I get quite out of puff, and can take exercise only in relatively short bursts. I also get really tired and sleep a lot. By about day 5, I am able to function at about 70 percent, and by day 6 or 7 my sleep pattern is normal.

But if I do ski several times in the season, by my third skiing week of the season, I don't notice any serious limitations due to medium altitude (skiing at average 1500 to 2800 metres (4600 to 8700 feet). However, very high altitudes, say glacier skiing at 3100 metres plus (10000 feet), remain quite draining.

What is other people's experience?

[gandalf]

I agree with those who think high-elevation locations like Colorado Springs should be ditched for major skating competitions. For matters of time and cost, it is neither fair nor practical to expect competitors to show up a week or 10 days early to adjust to the altitude. Considering the dearth of skating coverage this season, and the recent negative publicity surrounding figure skating, the ISU should be making every effort to ensure that it is putting its best foot forward when competitions actually make it on TV. Lacklustre skating and seeing athletes gasping for air after even the SP does the sport no favours.

[Rogue]

IMHO, there should be no limit on locations for competitions, whether the competition be at high elevation or at sea level. The skaters know years in advance where competitions are scheduled, and can adjust their training regimes accordingly.