VO2max, or oxygen uptake capacity, is required in all endurance sports because it is one of the most challenging physical activities a person can engage in. Cross-country skiing requires the entire body and muscles to propel oneself forward. Not only does the body have to work, but metabolism also needs to be at full throttle, with oxygen consumption surging as you move through the winter landscape.

It goes without saying that the faster you ski, the more strenuous the performance becomes, as your muscles demand more oxygen with increasing speed. Professional skiers face this discomfort in every race, but it can also be addicting because pushing oneself to the limit is the key to all endurance sports.

Maximal oxygen uptake is a measure of an athlete’s physical fitness, commonly referred to as VO2max. Elite skiers are known to have some of the highest VO2max scores because the nature of the sport demands a high oxygen consumption capacity.

For some readers, the term VO2max may still be somewhat unclear, so let’s clarify it. According to Maastohiihto.com, it is the maximum amount of oxygen consumption measured during gradual exercise; in other words, during exercise where intensity increases. The name is derived from three abbreviations: “V” for volume, “O2” for oxygen, and “max” for maximum.

Maximal oxygen consumption reflects an individual’s cardiovascular and respiratory fitness, which is a crucial factor in the endurance capacity for prolonged physical exercise. VO2max is expressed either as an absolute value in liters of oxygen per minute (L/min) or as a relative value in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body mass per minute (mL/(kg·min)). The latter expression is often used to compare the performance of endurance athletes.

On average, an untrained, healthy male has a VO2max of approximately 35–40 mL/(kg·min), while an untrained, healthy female average around 27–31 mL/(kg·min). These values can improve with training and decrease with age, but the effect of exercise is highly individual; some may easily increase their VO2max through training, while for others, exercise may not be as effective. It is a hereditary trait, but anyone can enhance their oxygen uptake capacity through physical activity.

Looking at statistics collected over the years, Norwegian skier Bjørn Dæhlie achieved one of the highest recorded VO2max values, 96 mL/(kg·min), while five-time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain was reported to have reached 88.0 at his peak. Norwegian cyclist Oskar Svendsen amazed the endurance sports world at the age of 18 when he recorded his highest VO2max value at 97.5 mL/(kg·min) in 2012.

It’s important to keep in mind that in some endurance sports like rowing, athletes have a much higher body mass than in skiing, which results in their VO2max values per kilogram being slightly lower, but their absolute VO2max values are often much higher. For example, British rower Sir Matthew Pinsent is reported to have achieved a VO2max value of 7.5 L/min.

What about women? Who has recorded the highest documented VO2max value among female athletes? That honor goes to Joan Benoit, the winner of the 1984 Olympic marathon, with a score of 78.6. Second on the list is Norwegian cross-country skier Bente Skari, who achieved a score of 76.6. Charlotte Kalla and Marit Bjørgen are not far behind, with values of 74 and 72, respectively.

Ski Classics skiers have also achieved high values, even though long-distance skiing is often considered less oxygen-demanding. Towards the end of his career, Petter Eliassen measured approximately 88 mL/(kg·min), Anders Aukland reached similar values, and three-time Ski Classics champion Andreas Nygaard was not far behind. Especially when measured purely in terms of diagonal stride skiing, Ski Classics skiers are world-class. As an example, Eliassen’s maximum value while diagonal striding was only a few millimoles lower than his result when skate skiing, and Nygaard even surpassed Eliassen in a treadmill test performed with diagonal stride skiing a few years ago.

Male skiers have thus reached VO2max values of about 90 mL/(kg·min), with some individuals even surpassing that figure. In a 2018 article by Iltalehti, coach Toni Roponen estimated the VO2max values for men as follows:

“Men who engage in physical activity 40-50, endurance athletes 45-55, marathon runners around three hours 60, elite football players 60-70 (70 for the world’s best), endurance athletes 60-75, elite endurance athletes 80-90, and winners in endurance sports over 90 milliliters.”

Of course, these high values are achieved by elite athletes who are exceptionally talented and well-trained, but the average skier need not worry about attaining such high scores while skiing. Regular exercise with varying intensities will undoubtedly contribute to good fitness. If the goal is to excel in mass participation events and improve personal performance, it may be worth incorporating interval and speed endurance training into your exercise routine. You can read more about these and other training methods here.

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