Blood lactate, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion responses of elite surf lifesavers to high-performance competition

A paucity of empirical research exists into surf lifesaving competition from which coaches and athletes may formulate training and recovery strategies. Seventeen (male=9; female=8) high-performance surf lifesavers (21.2 +/- 3.9 years) contested multiple rounds of team and individual events at a 2-day surf lifesaving competition. Individual events consisted of the multi-discipline ironman (IRON), paddle board (BOARD) and surf swim (SWIM). Blood lactate (BLa), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and heart rate (HR) were determined following heats, semi-finals and final. IRON HR and RIDE following semi-finals (153.0 +/- 21.6 beats min(-1) and 14.4 +/- 1.5) and final (171.0 +/- 9.1 beats min(-1) and 19.1 +/- 0.2) were greater than heats (141.8 +/- 17.2 beats min(-1) and 12.0 +/- 1.9; p<0.05) and final BLa (10.5 +/- 2.8 mmol L(-1)) was greater than heats (5.8 +/- 3.6 mmol L(-1); p<0.05). BOARD BLa and HR were greater after the final (9.0 +/- 2.8 mmol L(-1) and 159.0 +/- 19.9 beats min(-1)) compared to heats (4.7 +/- 2.4 mmol L(-1) and 133.0 +/- 17.1 beats min(-1); p < 0.05). No significant differences were identified for SWIM. RPE-HR relationships were identified for pooled IRON and BOARD results following semi-finals (0.668; p<0.05) and finals (r=0.741; p<0.05). In conclusion, high-performance surf lifesavers employ race strategies with all-out maximal exercise limited to semi-finals and finals. (C) 2007 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.