Downhill Skiing and VO2 Max: What the Research Shows
Downhill skiing is a thrilling winter sport where skiers race down snowy slopes at high speeds, demanding quick bursts of power, balance, and endurance. VO2 max measures how much oxygen your body can use during intense exercise, serving as a key indicator of cardiovascular fitness. While direct research on downhill skiing and VO2 max is limited, studies on related aerobic activities and winter sports offer insights into its potential benefits.
VO2 max reflects your body’s maximum ability to transport and utilize oxygen, peaking in most people during their 30s before declining by about 5% to 10% per decade without training.[5] Genetics set your potential range, but consistent aerobic exercise helps you reach the upper end, improving both lifespan and healthspan.[2] Higher VO2 max links to better cognitive function in older adults, with one study of 648 people averaging age 70 showing stronger memory, attention, and executive skills among those with superior cardiovascular fitness.[2]
Skiing, especially in winter sports, ties into VO2 max gains. Scandinavian research finds children in cross-country skiing, a cousin to downhill with more sustained effort, show higher maximum oxygen uptake from regular practice.[3] Downhill skiing involves intense uphill efforts like skinning or short climbs in backcountry settings, mimicking steep hill training that boosts VO2 max faster than flat efforts.[1] These high-intensity bursts push the aerobic system, similar to how Zone 2 training at 50% to 80% of max heart rate builds endurance by enhancing fat use and oxygen efficiency.[4]
Though downhill skiing emphasizes anaerobic power for turns and speed, its aerobic demands shine in longer runs or variable terrain. Research on incline activities suggests steep gradients, like those in ski terrain, spend more time in fat-burning zones that support VO2 max improvements.[1] Training for low-oxygen high-altitude skiing also highlights how such efforts condition the body against VO2 max drops in thin air.[6]
Elite downhill skiers likely maintain high VO2 max through cross-training in aerobic sports, as pure downhill leans more on strength and technique. Overall, the evidence points to downhill skiing contributing to VO2 max when paired with sustained efforts, much like other hill-based or winter activities.
Sources
https://www.sundried.com/blogs/training/hiking-for-fitness
https://www.mendcolorado.com/physical-therapy-blog/2025/12/22/cardiovascular-fitness-associated-with-cognitive-function-in-older-adults/
https://libmonster.com/m/articles/view/Winter-sports-for-children
https://www.aktivitus.se/en/2025/12/20/zon-2-traning-vad-ar-egentligen-grejen/
https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/post-hike-exercise-analysis-long-distance-hiking-is-a-lot-of-work-and-you-can-get-burned-out/
https://iantaylortrekking.com/blog/how-do-you-train-for-high-altitude-and-low-oxygen-environments/
