Critical Power Determination with Ergometry Rowing: Relation to Rowing Performance

Abstract

The relationships between critical power (CP) and anaerobic work capacity (AWC), and the rowing performance in a 2000 m ergometry rowing effort were assessed. Nine male university rowers performed three tests: 1) critical power determination, 2) 2000 m simulated rowing and 3) VO2max test. The CP and AWC were determined from the regression between work and time to exhaustion, derived from three exhaustive trials at 70, 60, and 50% of the maximal power. The 2000 m simulated rowing performance was higher for subjects with higher CP independent of AWC. The mean power throughout the 2000 m simulated rowing correlated significantly with CP (r = 0.87) and the absolute VO2max (r = 0.71), but not with AWC. CP also influenced the pattern of changes in power over the 2000 m simulated rowing. We conclude that the CP is a useful indicator of rowing performance and may be efficacious for monitoring the training effects in rowing.