Abstract
Introduction. The aim of this study was to assess selected psychological, physiological and technical factors related to ski hiking in order to offer some recommendations for ski hikers and ski hike organisers.
Material and methods. The hike lasted 8 hours and the hikers covered a distance of 24 kilometres. The ski hikers' emotional state was assessed three times: before the ski hike, 1 hour after the hike and 16 hours after the hike. Their skiing technique was evaluated during the first part of the hike and at the end of the hike. The heart rate of the skiers was recorded over the course of the hike. The data were then processed and analysed statistically.
Results. When comparing the data collected for the selected factors during the ski hike, some significant correlations were found. A significant correlation was observed between the level of fear experienced before the ski hike and cycle length for the diagonal stride (r=−0.791, p<0.05), which meant that the hikers with poorer ski technique felt more afraid before the hike. However, these hikers also showed lower levels of sadness 16 hours after the hike (r=0.804, p<0.05). A significant negative correlation (r=−0.849, p<0.05) was found when comparing the average heart rate frequency and the level of anger experienced after the hike, that is the hikers who had a lower heart rate were angrier after the hike. The results helped to develop some important recommendations for ski hikers and ski hike organisers.