IS BASIC CAPABILITY IMPORTANT ENOUGH
TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GROUPS OF
DIFFERENT COMPETITIVE PERFORMANCE
LEVELS IN WILD-WATER SLALOM?
ALI JE OSNOVNA ZMOGLJIVOST
KAJAKA[EV V SLALOMU NA DIVJIH VODAH
TAKO POMEMBNA, DA RAZLIKUJE
SKUPINE Z RAZLI^NIM TEKMOVALNIM
RANGOM?
Anton U{aj
57 U{aj, A. (2001). Is basic capability important enough to distinguish betveen groups of different competitive… KinSI 7(1–2), 57–61
Abstract
The aim of the study was to test a hypothesis that paddlers in
wild-water slalom, who reached a higher level of competitive
performance (Olympic games level), also have a higher level
of basic endurance and basic speed endurance performance
than those who compete on lower levels. Four groups of four
paddlers were tested: National Olympic team (OLYMPIC), a
group of paddlers in the national team who failed to qualify for
the Olympic games (NON-OLYMPIC), a group of national ju-
niors group (JUNIOR A) and a group who failed to be selected
to the national juniors group (JUNIOR B). All performed two
tests: incremental paddling test on flat water for assessment of
basic endurance performance and »8« test for assessment of
basic speed endurance performance. The results showed that
basic endurance characteristics: vLT, vOBLA and vmax and
basic speed endurance characteristic t8 did not differentiate
the OLYMPIC group (2.26±0.02 m/s, 2.37±0.05 m/s,
2.58±0.07 m/s, 110.5±7.1 s) from the NON-OLYMPIC
(2.26±0.07 m/s, 2.39±0.08 m/s, 2.62±0.04 m/s, 113.1±1.6
s). The results showed that both groups were so close, accor-
ding to results, that they practically represented a homogene-
ous single group. Significant differences occurred when the
OLYMPIC group was compared to JUNIORS A (2.17±0.06
m/s (P<0.05), 2.27±0.08 m/s, 2.47±0.07m/s, 121.2±5.7 s),
but only in vLT and JUNIORS B (2.07±0.02 m/s (P<0.01),
2.18±0.09 m/s (P<0.01), 2.37±0.09 m/s (P<0.01),
126.5±3.5 s (P<0.01)). When both seniors groups were com-
bined into one SENIOR group, then the differences with each
of the juniors groups became highly significant in all the para-
meters. Therefore, the hypothesis of the study was supported.
When the differences between paddlers in competitive perfor-
mance became substantial, then basic endurance and basic
speed endurance performance followed suit.
Key words: wild-water slalom kayak, endurance, speed endu-
rance
Izvle~ek
Cilj raziskave je bil preizkus domneve, da se vrhunski kajaka-
{i na divjih vodah v slalomu razlikujejo od tistih, ki tega nivo-
ja ne dosegajo, tudi po osnovnih zmogljivostih: vzdr`ljivosti in
hitrostni vzdr`ljivosti in ne le samo po tistih, ki ka`ejo specifi~-
no kajaka{ko zmogljivost. Sodelovale so {tiri skupine s po {ti-
rimi kajaka{i: olimpijska ekipa (OLYMPIC), del nacionalne eki-
pe, ki se ni uvrstil v kvalifikacijah na Olimpijske igre
(NON-OLYMPIC), del juniorske nacionalne ekipe (JUNIORS A)
in del ekipe ki se ni uvrstila v nacionalno juniorsko ekipo (JU-
NIORS B). Vsi kajaka{i so opravili dva testa: standardni test z
enakomernim pove~evanjem hitrosti veslanja za oceno osnov-
ne vzdr`ljivosti in test »8« za oceno osnovne hitrostne vzdr`-
ljivosti. Rezultati ka`ejo, da so kazalci osnovne vzdr`ljivosti:
vLT, vOBLA in vmax ter osnovne hitrostne vzdr`ljivosti t8 ne
diferencirajo skupine OLYMPIC (2,26±0,02 m/s, 2,37±0,05
m/s, 2,58±0,07 m/s, 110,5±7,1 s) od skupine NON-
OLYMPIC (2,26±0,07 m/s, 2,39±0,08 m/s, 2,62±0,04 m/s,
113,1±1,6 s). Rezultati ka`ejo tak{no podobnost med skupi-
nama, da ju ni mogo~e lo~iti, torej spadata k eni homogeni
skupini. Statisti~no zna~ilne razlike dobimo {ele pri primerja-
vi OLYMPIC skupine z JUNIORS A (2,17±0,06 m/s (P<0,05),
2,27±0,08 m/s, 2,47±0,07m/s, 121,2±5,7 s), toda le pri ka-
zalcu vLT in skupini JUNIORS B (2,07±0,02 m/s (P<0,01),
2,18±0,09 m/s (P<0,01), 2,37±0,09 m/s (P<0,01),
126,5±3,5 s (P<0,01)). Ko obe seniorski skupini zdru`imo v
eno SENIOR, se razlike z obema juniorskima skupinama izra-
zito pove~ajo pri vseh kazalcih. S tem je hipoteza naloge po-
trjena. Kadar obstajajo razlike v tekmovalni zmogljivosti kaja-
ka{ev v slalomu na divjih vodah, potem se te razlike
preslikavajo ne samo v specifi~nih sposobnostih kajaka{ev tem-
ve~ tudi v osnovni vzdr`ljivosti in osnovni hitrostni vzdr`ljivo-
sti.
Klju~ne besede: kajak slalom na divjih vodah, vzdr`ljivost, hi-
trostna vzdr`ljivost
(Received: 13. 11. 2001 – Accepted: 13. 12. 2001)
Contact address
Anton U{aj
University of Ljubljana – Faculty of Sport
Gortanova 22, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Phone: +386 1 540-10-77, Fax: +386 1 540-22-33
E-mail: Anton.Usaj@guest.arnes.si

INTRODUCTION
Wild water slalom competition consisted of two runs
of approximately 2 minutes duration of high intensity
exercise. Such exercise was assessed to be dependent
on about 50% energy coming from aerobic processes
and about 50% from anaerobic (Astrand, & Rodahl,
1986). The endurance part of competitive performan-
ce is based on aerobic energy release. Anaerobic en-
ergy release is the background for speed endurance,
which can be realised through the speed, strength and
power of paddling. Both may be important basic com-
petition performance characteristics. From the point
of view of specific performances, the wild-water sla-
lom competition is strongly dependent on technique
and tactics (Vest, 1996). It may be assumed that dif-
ferent levels of basic performance of paddlers give
them the possibility to compete on different levels of
intensity. This optimal intensity permits the highest
paddling velocity at which fatigue occurs as late as
possible during the competition. If it is dependent al-
so on basic competition performance characteristics,
then better paddlers should have basic endurance and
speed-endurance performances on a higher level than
paddlers, who do not reach such high competition
performance level. This permits them to compete
with higher absolute velocity throughout the slalom
course, and be similarly fatigued as paddlers who
reached a lower level of competition performance
and lower basic performance. If this hypothesis is cor-
rect then one may expect a significant difference in
basic endurance and speed endurance characteristics
of paddlers of different competition performance, in
spite of their lower importance in relation to specific
kayak slalom performances, technique and tactics.
The aim of the study was therefore to ascertain if the
differences in basic performance characteristics ac-
companied different competition performance level
(quality) of wild water paddlers.
METHODS
The four groups of four paddlers (Table 1) recruited
from the Slovenian national senior and junior teams
with addition of one Italian athlete in the OLYMPIC
group, participated in the study. The Olympic group
(OLYMPIC) consisted of paddlers who competed at
the Olympic games in Sydney (2000) and Atlanta
(1996). The non-Olympic group (NON-OLYMPIC)
consisted of paddlers who failed to qualify for the
Olympic team. In spite of that, they compete on the
highest international level. The national junior team
members were included in the first juniors group (JU-
NIOR A) and the second junior group (JUNIOR B)
consisted of juniors who failed to qualify for the na-
tional junior team.
All subjects participated in the test of incremental
paddling velocity on flat water (U{aj, 1998 a). They
performed 5 repetitions on a 600 m distance with a
constant pre-determined heart rate (HR). The padd-
ling intensity was controlled to be constant according
to constant HR. It increased from 110 b/min during
the first 600 m repetition, to 130, 150, 165 and conc-
luded in the final repetition with maximal possible in-
tensity.
Of all the subjects, just one from the OLYMPIC group,
failed to participate in the second test.  This test of
»eight« (»8«) simulated the competition effort on flat
water (U{aj, 1998b). There were two gates separated
by a distance of 50m, which should be paddled in a
figure of eight, with the maximal possible intensity.
During the incremental test, the time to complete
each 600 m distance was measured in addition to HR
measuring, which was also used to control the inten-
sity of the effort. After each repetition, capillary ear
lobe blood samples (10 µ l) were sampled and dissol-
ved in LKM140 lactate solution and measured for lac-
tate concentration with a MINI8 photometer (dr. Lan-
ge, Germany). A similar technique was also used for
blood sampling after the »8« test, however with a de-
lay of about 3 min. The [LA] and HR from the incre-
mental test were plotted against paddling velocity for
the determination of the Lactate Threshold (LT) (Bea-
ver, Wasserman, & Whipp, 1985; U{aj, 1990; U{aj,
1998a), Onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA)
(Karlsson, & Jacobs, 1982; U{aj, 1998a) and maximal
values. LT was described as velocity (v
LT
), HR (HRLT)
and [LA] (LA
LT
). OBLA was described as velocity
(v
OBLA
) and HR (HR
OBLA
). Maximal intensity was des-
cribed as velocity (v
max
), HR (HR
max
) and [LA] (LAmax).
Additionally, the steeper slope of two regression lines
in a diagram of log[LA] dependent to log (v) was used
for calculating the rate of [LA] increase (LA
rate
). 
Using t-test, the significance of the differences bet-
ween OLYMPIC and the other three groups were te-
sted. The limit of 5 % significance was used.
RESULTS
The paddling velocity determined by LT (vLT) reached
similar values in OLYMPIC and NON-OLYMPIC
groups (Table 1, Fig 1). The JUNIOR A group achie-
ved a velocity about 0.09 m/s lower (P<0.05) (Table
1, Fig. 1) and the JUNIOR B group about 0.19 m/s
(P<0.01) (Table 1, Fig. 1). The velocity v
OBLA
reached
similar values in OLYMPIC and NON-OLYMPIC
groups (Table 1, Fig.1), similarly as for the JUNIOR A
group, however close to the limit of significance
(P=0.08). There was only a tendency for lower inten-
sity (Table 1, Fig. 1). Differently, the JUNIOR B group
achieved a velocity about 0.14 m/s lower (P<0.01)
58 U{aj, A. (2001). Is basic capability important enough to distinguish betveen groups of different competitive… KinSI 7(1–2), 57–61

(Table 1, Fig. 1). The maximal velocities in the incre-
mental test (vmax) of NON-OLYMPIC and JUNIOR
groups were not different from the OLYMPIC group
(Table 1, Fig. 1) in spite of a tendency of lower values
(P=0.07) in JUNIOR A. Only the JUNIOR B group
showed about 0.27 m/s lower vmax (P<0.01)(Table 1,
Fig. 1).
59 U{aj, A. (2001). Is basic capability important enough to distinguish betveen groups of different competitive… KinSI 7(1–2), 57–61
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BASIC ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE
GROUP NAME v
LT
v
OBLA
v
max
LA
LT
LA
max
HR
LT
HR
OBLA
HR
max
∆ LA/∆ v
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s) (mmol/l) (mmol/l) (b/min) (b/min) (b/min)
OLYMPIC 2.26 2.37 2.58 2.0 13.5 138 156 181 15.77
(0.02) (0.05) (0.07) (0.6) (0.4) (6) (8) (5) (3.35)
NONOLYMPIC 2.26 2.39 2.62 1.7 14.5 139 157 185 14.53
(0.07) (0.08) (0.04) (0.4) (3.5) (4) (4) (6) (2.85)
JUNIORS A 2.17 2.27 2.47 2.1 13.2 133 155 188 14.50
(0.06) * (0.08) (0.07) (0.4) (1.8) (7) (10) (3) (2.14)
JUNIORS B 2.07 2.18 2.37 2.10 12.0 140 154 182 13.04
(0.02) ** (0.09)** (0.09)** (1.2) (2.3) (9) (14) (9) (2.37)
Table 1
COMPARISONS BETWEEN FOUR GROUPS OF PADDLERS ACCORDING TO THEIR BASIC ENDURANCE
PREPARATION CHARACTERISTICS
LEGEND: For abbreviations see the text. * – different than OLYMPIC (P<0.05) ** – different than OLYMPIC (P<0.01)
Fig. 1
Comparisons between velocities, [LA] and HR determined by
criterions Lactate Threshold (lt), Onset of Blood Lactate Accumu-
lation (obla) and maximal intensity (max) of four groups of sub-
jects during incremental test. * - means different from OLYMPIC
(P<0.05), ** - different from OLYMPIC (P<0.01).
Fig. 2
Comparisons between velocities, [LA] and HR determined for
four groups of subjects during »8« test. * - means different from
OLYMPIC (P<0.05), ** - different from OLYMPIC (P<0.01).
Note that only JUNIOR B was significantly different than
OLYMPIC group.

[LA] determined by the criterion LT (LALT) and that
determined at the end of the incremental test (vmax)
did not show any significant differences between
groups (Table 1,Fig. 1). Similarly, heart rate, determi-
ned by using different criterions, was also not different
(Table 1, Fig. 1). The LA
rate
in diagrams of log [LA]/log
(v) also did not show any significant difference bet-
ween groups (Table 1). The increase of HR during the
incremental test (HR/v) did not show any significant
differences between groups (Table 1). 
The duration of paddling during the »8« test (t8) did
not differentiate between OLYMPIC and NON-
OLYMPIC nor JUNIOR A groups, even if the JUNIOR
A group showed a clear tendency for longer duration
(Table 2, Fig. 2). This tendency increased for about
16 s in the JUNIOR B group (P<0.01) (Table 2, Fig.
2). In contrast, [LA] and HR did not show any signifi-
cant differences between the OLYMPIC and the other
groups (Table 2, Fig. 2).
All observed velocities showed very similar values for
the OLYMPIC and NON-OLYMPIC groups. More pre-
cisely, analysis of subjects of both groups showed that
maybe both groups were practically the same group.
If both groups were combined into one group (SE-
NIOR) then, v
LT
, v
OBLA
and vmax reached the following
values: 2.26±0.05 m/s, 2.38±0.06 m/s, 2.60±0.06
m/s. Compared with the JUNIOR A and JUNIOR B
groups, differences in all velocities v
LT
, v
OBLA
and vmax
became significant (P<0.01) (Fig. 3). Additionally al-
so t8 (112.2±3.6 s) passed its significance (P<0.01).
All other parameters used in the study did not show
significant differences. 
DISCUSSION
The main hypothesis of the study was that paddlers
who reached a higher level of competition perfor-
mance (OLYMPIC) also have higher basic endurance
and basic speed endurance levels than those who did
not reach such high competition performance. Our
results support the assumption that a higher level of
basic endurance and basic speed endurance perfor-
mance makes possible a higher paddling speed during
competition. 
In our study two basic performances, basic enduran-
ce and basic speed endurance, were estimated by us-
ing Lactate Threshold, Onset of Blood Lactate Accu-
mulation and maximal performance during an
incremental test and by using characteristics of the
»8« test (U{aj, 1998a; U{aj, 1998b). Results showed
that basic endurance performance estimated by velo-
cities v
LT
, v
OBLA
and vmax and basic speed endurance
estimated by time reached in the «8« test (t8) differen-
tiates between paddlers only if the difference in their
competition performance is also substantial. There
60 U{aj, A. (2001). Is basic capability important enough to distinguish betveen groups of different competitive… KinSI 7(1–2), 57–61
LEGEND: For abbreviations see the text.
*  – different than OLYMPIC (P<0.05)
** – different than OLYMPIC (P<0.01)
Table 2
COMPARISONS BETWEEN FOUR GROUPS OF
PADDLERS ACCORDING TO THEIR BASIC SPEED
ENDURANCE PREPARATION CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BASIC SPEED
ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE
GROUPNAME t
8
HR [LA]
(s) (b/min) (mmol/l)
OLYMPIC 110,5 175 14,4
(7.1) (11) (1.4)
NONOLYMPIC 113.1 178 13.1
(1.6) (1) (1.7)
JUNIORS A 121.2 178 13.4
(5.7) (6) (3.2)
JUNIORS B 126.5 178 11.5
(3.5) ** (9) (2.6)
Fig. 3
Comparisons between velocities, [LA] and HR determined by
criterions Lactate Threshold (lt), Onset of Blood Lactate Accumu-
lation (obla) and maximal intensity (max) of four groups of sub-
jects during incremental test. * - means different from SENIOR
(P<0.05), ** - different from SENIOR (P<0.01).

was no difference between both groups of senior
paddlers (OLYMPIC and NON-OLYMPIC). The selec-
tion, which separates them into one of two groups
was based on ranking their competition results (com-
petition time and penalty time) and not just on the dif-
ferences between achieved competition times. The
limit, which selects paddlers to the OLYMPIC group,
was set at two best-ranked paddlers from the qualifi-
cation competitions. It was declared by national
Olympic Committee and may be unfair to the next
one or more subjects who reached similar competi-
tion results, however, they have been ranked to pla-
ces following the second because of the penalty time
reached when mistakes were made. Grouping of all
seniors into one group may therefore be better for a
scientific analysis of differences between different
groups of paddlers. Repeated analyses give a different
result when only one joint SENIOR group was com-
pared with JUNIOR A and JUNIOR B than in the case
when only the OLYMPIC group was used in the analy-
sis. The differences observed in all speeds and t8 sup-
ported the hypothesis that also basic endurance per-
formance and basic speed endurance performance
differentiate between paddlers similarly as do compe-
tition times. Paddlers, who reached a higher compe-
tition level, showed also a higher level of basic endu-
rance and basic speed endurance performance.
Additionally, their HR and LA response during the tests
was similar in spite of a clear difference in the abso-
lute intensity of paddling. Therefore, in addition to
dominant specific paddling skills, also basic enduran-
ce and basic speed endurance seems to be very im-
portant in differentiating paddlers according to their
competition performance. This conclusion has impor-
tant practical application for wild-water slalom trai-
ning. It showed that basic endurance and basic speed
endurance performance have to receive enough at-
tention during training also in competition periods
and not only during preparatory training periods. This
is however in contrast to the training philosophy of a
certain number of slalom paddlers and coaches. Ac-
cording to our results this philosophy should be chan-
ged.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Andrej Jelenc, coach of the Slove-
nian National Team and Robert Krko~, assistant coach
of the Italian National Team 
REFERENCES
1. Astrand, P.O., & Rodahl, K. (1986). Textbook of work physiology.
New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.
2. Beaver, W.L., Wasserman, K., & Whipp, B. (1985). Improved de-
tection of lactate threshold during exercise using a log-log transfor-
mation. J Appl Physiol, 59(6), 1936-1940.
3. Karlsson, J., & Jacobs, I. (1982). Onset of blood lactate accumula-
tion during muscular exercise as a threshold concept. Int J Sports
Med, 3, 190-201.
4. U{aj, A. (1990). Poskus uskladitve dveh konceptov anaerobnega pra-
ga pri testiranju vzdr`ljivosti teka~ev [An attempt to establish two
anaerobic threshold concepts in endurance testing at runners]. Doc-
toral dissertation, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Slove-
nia.
5. U{aj, A. (1998a). Nadzor v procesu {portne vadbe kajaka{ev na div-
jih vodah. (1. Metode za nadzor {portnikovih zna~ilnosti) [The con-
trol of training process of wild water kayakers. (1. Methods for esti-
mating performance)]. [port, 46(1), 47-52.
6. U{aj, A. (1998b). Nadzor v procesu {portne vadbe kajaka{ev na div-
jih vodah. (2. Zna~ilne vrednosti uporabljenih kazalcev in njihova
uporaba v procesu {portne vadbe) [The control of training process
of wild water kayakers. (2. Characteristic values of tests results and
their use in training process)]. [port, 46(2), 46-52.
7. Vest, A.L. (1996). Model nekaterih energijskih zna~ilnosti kajaka{ev
[A model of some energy characteristics of wild-water paddlers].
Doctoral dissertation, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Slo-
venia.
61 U{aj, A. (2001). Is basic capability important enough to distinguish betveen groups of different competitive… KinSI 7(1–2), 57–61