Ski-orienteering: a scientific perspective on a multi-dimensional challenge

Ski-orienteering, which combines cross-country skiing with orienteering, dates back to the late 1800s, with the first World Championships in 1975. While researchers have explored the physiological and biomechanical determinants of success in cross-country skiing and orienteering separately in detail, scientific knowledge concerning ski-orienteering remains limited. Based on the information that is presently available together with interviews with elite ski-orienteers, we explore here for the first time the historical development, physiological, biomechanical, and psychological demands, certain training strategies, and future prospects and challenges associated with this sport, including its potential to become an Olympic event. A demanding endurance sport (with racing times of 12–120 min), ski-orienteering requires both considerable aerobic and anaerobic capacity, as well as well-trained upper and lower body muscles. In addition, ski-orienteering demands advanced skiing technique on various types of terrain, with frequent changes between sub-techniques, on both wide and narrow tracks and with numerous turns on downhill terrain. Moreover, success in this sport requires accurate and rapid orienteering—the ability to navigate a complex network of ski tracks with numerous intersections/crossings in a manner designed to pass the multiple control points in the order indicated on the map as rapidly as possible, i.e., advanced spatial cognition and highly developed navigational skills. Thus, ski-orienteering requires training designed to improve both relevant physiological characteristics and orienteering skills, which should become the focus of future interdisciplinary research on this complex sport.