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Nutrition cross-country skiing

For a new personal best in your next cross-country skiing event

Whether skating or classic style, leisure sportsman or top athlete: cross-country skiing is one of the most popular and attractive endurance sports in winter. However, anyone who wants to perform at their best on the cross-country ski slopes needs more than just perfect conditions, serious training, top equipment and excellent technique: the more ambitious a cross-country skier is, the more central the specific sports nutrition becomes! A correctly chosen, carefully coordinated nutritional strategy determines whether a cross-country skier can maintain his or her top performance right up to the finish line - or whether lactate in the legs or an energy hole in the middle of a competition forces the athlete to slow down or even give up. For maximum performance in the cross-country ski run, the following points should be observed:

In advance: Filling up glycogen stores
Long cross-country training sessions in the cold as well as challenging competitions lasting more than 90 minutes wear out the body. Filled glycogen stores therefore form the crucial basis for reaching one's goal. Carboloading with a highly concentrated carbohydrate drink the day before a competition or a long training session is of great benefit. Ideally suited: CARBO LOADER, a sports drink specially developed for replenishing glycogen stores. Also important: a balanced breakfast based on slowly available carbohydrates such as oatmeal, porridge or graham bread. POWER PORRIDGE provides a tasty, quickly prepared and long-lasting meal before hard training or running.

Liquid supply during exercise
Anyone who is exercising over a longer period of time would do well to compensate for the loss of fluids and electrolytes with sports drinks. High-quality sports drinks provide the body with electrolytes and energy in addition to liquid.

• Generally speaking, COMPETITION is the drink of choice for endurance activities, as it is acid-free and only mildly flavoured. It is extremely well tolerated even at high dosages.
• In contrast, LONG ENERGY 10% scores with a protein addition of 10%, making the drink ideal for intensive strength-focused endurance training or very long activities.
• For those disliking cold drinks in winter: sports drinks such as COMPETITION or SPORT TEA are also suitable for hot water preparation and consumption.
• Cross-country skiers who want to train with reduced calories may do without energy-containing sports drinks and prefer our low-calorie electrolyte drinks such as ELECTROLYTES or LOW CARB BURNER instead. These are very suitable for fat metabolism training.

Energy supply during competition: observe blood sugar curve
Carbohydrate products based on glucose and sucrose, so-called fast sugars, quickly enter the bloodstream and cause a rapid insulin response during their metabolisation. Even though rapid availability is desirable, a regular supply is necessary to avoid blood sugar fluctuations. The following tips will help you to maintain constant blood glucose levels:

• Drink regularly from your sports drink is particularly important in the cold! The body also loses a lot of fluid through breathing in cold conditions. In order to cover the increased energy requirement caused by the cold, the COMPETITION sports drink can also be prepared in higher concentrations. This will provide sufficient energy, even if the drinking volume is slightly less than in hot weather conditions.
• During competition it is recommended to use LIQUID ENERGY GELS, as these gels do not require chewing and therefore do not hinder breathing as much. Furthermore, due to the high sugar concentration the gels practically cannot freeze, unlike bars.
• OAT PACK or CEREAL ENERGY BARS are recommended for amateur athletes who don't fight for seconds and like to eat solid food on the cross-country ski slope. These tasty bars provide long-lasting energy. Although they remain easier to chew than most bars, even at sub-zero temperatures, they should still be worn close to the body.
• An alternative to bars or gels is offered by the POWER GUMS fruit gums, which are relatively cold-resistant and therefore easy to chew, convenient and can be taken in portions. Besides 58 g carbohydrates they also contain 150 mg caffeine (approx. 1 ½ cups of coffee) per 10 pieces.

Tips for ambitious competitors
With increasing exercise duration, fatigue increases and the ability to coordinate and concentrate decreases. However, in a technically demanding sport such as cross-country skiing, clean and economical technology is of great importance, especially at high intensity and increasing competition duration. Therefore, it is recommended to take the ACTIVATOR 200 Caffeine Shot shortly before the start or, depending on the duration of the race, at the latest towards the last hour of competition: The drinking ampoule contains 200 mg caffeine in free form as well as from guarana, mate and green tea.

Fast regeneration
Immediately after the competition it is important to think about the next training session! A high-quality regeneration supplement supplies the body with fluid and electrolytes, fills the glycogen stores and helps to regenerate the muscle damage caused by exertion. Ideally suitable: PRO RECOVERY. The highly professional regeneration product with protein and carbohydrates is lactose-free and contains no artificial sweeteners. To be prepared with water.

Author: Remo Jutzeler
Head R&D SPONSER SPORT FOOD
Ing. Applied Food Sciences UAS
MAS Nutrition & Health ETHZ

Related articles
Nutrition in winter sports

Nutrition cross-country skiing

For a new personal best in your next cross-country skiing event

Whether skating or classic style, leisure sportsman or top athlete: cross-country skiing is one of the most popular and attractive endurance sports in winter. However, anyone who wants to perform at their best on the cross-country ski slopes needs more than just perfect conditions, serious training, top equipment and excellent technique: the more ambitious a cross-country skier is, the more central the specific sports nutrition becomes! A correctly chosen, carefully coordinated nutritional strategy determines whether a cross-country skier can maintain his or her top performance right up to the finish line - or whether lactate in the legs or an energy hole in the middle of a competition forces the athlete to slow down or even give up. For maximum performance in the cross-country ski run, the following points should be observed:

In advance: Filling up glycogen stores
Long cross-country training sessions in the cold as well as challenging competitions lasting more than 90 minutes wear out the body. Filled glycogen stores therefore form the crucial basis for reaching one's goal. Carboloading with a highly concentrated carbohydrate drink the day before a competition or a long training session is of great benefit. Ideally suited: CARBO LOADER, a sports drink specially developed for replenishing glycogen stores. Also important: a balanced breakfast based on slowly available carbohydrates such as oatmeal, porridge or graham bread. POWER PORRIDGE provides a tasty, quickly prepared and long-lasting meal before hard training or running.

Liquid supply during exercise
Anyone who is exercising over a longer period of time would do well to compensate for the loss of fluids and electrolytes with sports drinks. High-quality sports drinks provide the body with electrolytes and energy in addition to liquid.

• Generally speaking, COMPETITION is the drink of choice for endurance activities, as it is acid-free and only mildly flavoured. It is extremely well tolerated even at high dosages.
• In contrast, LONG ENERGY 10% scores with a protein addition of 10%, making the drink ideal for intensive strength-focused endurance training or very long activities.
• For those disliking cold drinks in winter: sports drinks such as COMPETITION or SPORT TEA are also suitable for hot water preparation and consumption.
• Cross-country skiers who want to train with reduced calories may do without energy-containing sports drinks and prefer our low-calorie electrolyte drinks such as ELECTROLYTES or LOW CARB BURNER instead. These are very suitable for fat metabolism training.

Energy supply during competition: observe blood sugar curve
Carbohydrate products based on glucose and sucrose, so-called fast sugars, quickly enter the bloodstream and cause a rapid insulin response during their metabolisation. Even though rapid availability is desirable, a regular supply is necessary to avoid blood sugar fluctuations. The following tips will help you to maintain constant blood glucose levels:

• Drink regularly from your sports drink is particularly important in the cold! The body also loses a lot of fluid through breathing in cold conditions. In order to cover the increased energy requirement caused by the cold, the COMPETITION sports drink can also be prepared in higher concentrations. This will provide sufficient energy, even if the drinking volume is slightly less than in hot weather conditions.
• During competition it is recommended to use LIQUID ENERGY GELS, as these gels do not require chewing and therefore do not hinder breathing as much. Furthermore, due to the high sugar concentration the gels practically cannot freeze, unlike bars.
• OAT PACK or CEREAL ENERGY BARS are recommended for amateur athletes who don't fight for seconds and like to eat solid food on the cross-country ski slope. These tasty bars provide long-lasting energy. Although they remain easier to chew than most bars, even at sub-zero temperatures, they should still be worn close to the body.
• An alternative to bars or gels is offered by the POWER GUMS fruit gums, which are relatively cold-resistant and therefore easy to chew, convenient and can be taken in portions. Besides 58 g carbohydrates they also contain 150 mg caffeine (approx. 1 ½ cups of coffee) per 10 pieces.

Tips for ambitious competitors
With increasing exercise duration, fatigue increases and the ability to coordinate and concentrate decreases. However, in a technically demanding sport such as cross-country skiing, clean and economical technology is of great importance, especially at high intensity and increasing competition duration. Therefore, it is recommended to take the ACTIVATOR 200 Caffeine Shot shortly before the start or, depending on the duration of the race, at the latest towards the last hour of competition: The drinking ampoule contains 200 mg caffeine in free form as well as from guarana, mate and green tea.

Fast regeneration
Immediately after the competition it is important to think about the next training session! A high-quality regeneration supplement supplies the body with fluid and electrolytes, fills the glycogen stores and helps to regenerate the muscle damage caused by exertion. Ideally suitable: PRO RECOVERY. The highly professional regeneration product with protein and carbohydrates is lactose-free and contains no artificial sweeteners. To be prepared with water.

Author: Remo Jutzeler
Head R&D SPONSER SPORT FOOD
Ing. Applied Food Sciences UAS
MAS Nutrition & Health ETHZ

Related articles
Nutrition in winter sports

Thermogenesis

These SPONSER products support thermogenesis

Thermogenesis refers to the heat-generating effect of burning calories, which is known especially from spicy meals. This excess heat results from increased calorie burning and can be used as part of nutritional and training measures for weight reduction. Specific metabolically activating foods such as green tea, caffeine and hot spices can increase thermogenesis. Schedule specific fasting times of 5 to 6 hours duration and experiment with moderately intensive training in a fasted stated, and high intensity training carried out when satiated. Find out what works best for you personally in terms of maximum fat burning and ultimately weight reduction.

SPORTS WATER BURNER
Suitable as a low-calorie sports drink or to accompany weight control in everyday life.
• Low-calorie sports drink
• Liquorice flavonoids activate thermogenesis
• Prickly pear extract with dehydrating properties to promote a firmer skin texture

CARNITINE 1000
Intake before and after physical activity or to accompany diets.
• Ready-to-drink flask
• 1000 mg L-carnitine, plays a role in the oxidation of fatty acids
• Zinc contributes to a normal fatty acid metabolism

ACTIVATOR
To be taken before training.
• 200 mg caffeine
• Caffeine activates thermogenesis
• Caffeine promotes the formation of ketone bodies
• Caffeine increases fat oxidation

Author: Remo Jutzeler
Head R&D SPONSER SPORT FOOD
Ing. Applied Food Sciences UAS
MAS Nutrition & Health ETHZ

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How to lose fat and build up muscles
Minimise your caloric intake and increase the protein content in your nutrition
Protein: For regeneration, muscle building, weight control and immune defence

Spengler Cup Davos

SPONSER is the official sports nutrition partner of the Spengler Cup Davos for over 10 years

The oldest ice hockey club tournament in the world is coming up. At the 93rd Spengler Cup Davos 2019, from 26th to 31st December, you can experience top-class ice hockey in a rousing atmosphere and unique location.

Since 2009 SPONSER has been the official sports nutrition partner of the traditional tournament in the Landwasser Valley. It provides the athletes of all teams before and after the match with high-quality sports drinks, tasty energy bars and indispensable energy gels. Many of the athletes have felt new power for another match after an ACTIVATOR caffeine shot. Or pulled greedily on the red and white SPONSER drinking bottle filled with refreshing ISOTONIC Red Orange during a 2-minute penalty. It won't be any different this year. A rich food buffet with POWER GUMS, LIQUID ENERGY GELS, bars and ACTIVATOR ensures that all athletes are perfectly catered for and full of energy storm over the ice.

Six teams - one goal
The schedule of the 93rd Spengler Cup Davos shows that ice hockey fans can look forward to exciting fights on the ice, which will sweeten the days between St. Stephen's Day and New Year's Eve. Besides the host HC Davos and Team Canada, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, a top team from the Continental Hockey League, will travel to Davos. The cult club HC Ambri-Piotta from Ticino will be the second Swiss team to participate for the first time. From the Czech Republic comes none other than reigning champion Ocelari Trinec. In addition, the traditional Finnish club TPS Turku will be curving across the ice from the country of the world champion.

SPONSER is proud to enjoy the trust of the players and the organisers for more than ten years and wishes everyone involved six exciting and thrilling days around the ice in Davos.

Ice Hockey Nutrition

Nutrition in ice hockey: what ice hockey players should be aware of

Ice hockey is a fascinating sport: fast-paced, physical and in some cases highly dramatic. Although the regular match time is usually three times 20 minutes with breaks of 15 minutes, the effective play time is much longer. Depending on the interruptions during the game, the five field players and the goalie can spend up to two and a half hours on ice. It is obvious that a competition of over two hours requires a targeted and carefully balanced nutritional strategy if an athlete is to fully exploit his performance potential on the ice. We explain in the following what ice hockey players nutrition-wise need to consider before, during and after the competition and make recommendations for product selection from the SPONSER range.

BEFORE COMPETITION

Filling glycogen stores
Full energy reservoirs are the be-all and end-all in a sport with long performing times such as ice hockey. Studies confirm that glycogen supercompensation (carboloading) with a concentrated, carbohydrate-containing drink provides a considerable energy advantage on the day before the competition. Suitable products:

• CARBO LOADER: High energy sports drink for replenishing glycogen stores, contains Vitargo®, a barley starch hydrolysate specially developed for this purpose.
• LIQUID ENERGY GELS: Those who prefer it quick and comfortable can take carbohydrates directly from the tube with these gels. They deliver easily tolerable energy, which is available within a few minutes after ingestion.
• HIGH ENERGY BAR: Competition bars for long-lasting energy. Ideal up to one hour before use.

Increased lactate tolerance
The relatively short, but high-intensity blocks, with sprints and hardly any breathers, as they occur again and again in ice hockey, result in high lactate accumulation. Beta-alanine and soda loading (sodium bicarbonate and sodium citrate) in advance increase the extracellular buffer capacity, which in turn delays the muscle acidosis and fatigue. Athletes benefit also from creatine supplementation, especially when it comes to speed and interval performance - two factors that play a central role in ice hockey. Suitable products:

• LACTAT BUFFER: For professional soda loading during 4-5 days before important games.
• BETA ALANINE: In contrast to soda loading, it does not increase the extracellular but the intracellular buffer capacity and thus ideally complements the LACTATE BUFFER. Loading is necessary for approx. 8 weeks and should be paused after approx. 12 weeks for several weeks.
• CREATINE MONOHYDRATE: Loading phase during 1-2 weeks, but can also be used throughout the entire season. For even better absorption, a combination with CREATINE PYRUMAX is also possible.

DURING THE GAME

Ensure regular liquid supply
Despite the obviously cool temperatures on the ice field, the loss of liquid is significantly higher than one would expect, due to high-intensity performance and the hindered thermoregulation by full-body clothing and protection gear. For this reason, professional athletes make sure to drink 0.5 to 1 litres of an energy- and electrolyte-containing sports drink per hour during a match. Suitable products:

• ISOTONIC: The classic sports drink with 5 fruity flavours.
• COMPETITION: The less sweet, less intensively flavoured and acid-free alternative and therefore the first choice in elite sports.

Avoiding blood sugar fluctuations and muscle cramps
In competitive sports, energy supply plays a central role because the body's fuel stores are not sufficient for a duration of more than approx. 90 to 120 minutes. LIQUID ENERGY Gels can therefore also be used in addition to carbohydrate-electrolytes drinks. They provide fast energy, can be taken easily and do not strain the digestion. Players with high sweat losses and/or cramp tendency may benefit from our MUSCLE RELAX Shot. Suitable products:

• LIQUID ENERGY GELS: Best tolerated liquid energy concentrate from quick and slow available carbohydrates. The energy kick par excellence! With or without caffeine.
• MUSCLE RELAX: 30 ml bottles of cucumber juice and vinegar. At first signs or acute muscle cramps, rinse your mouth briefly with it and drink afterwards.

EXPERT ADVICE

Keeping coordination and concentration high
Reaction time, attention, coordination, concentration and a high focus are elementary performance components in a technical and fast discipline like ice hockey. Suitable products for increased cognitive performance and delayed fatigue:

• ACTIVATOR: Ready-to-drink flask with 200 mg caffeine from guarana, mate and green tea. Ideal from the second third or to manage mental fatigue. To be taken approx. 30-60 min before the desired time of effect. Take in two portions depending on tolerance.
• MENTAL FOCUS: Caffeine-free formulation with green tea active ingredients and Rhodiola Rosea. Promotes focusing without increasing anxiety.

AFTER COMPETITION

Ensure fast recovery
«After the match is before the match» is a bon mot in ice hockey. It is therefore crucial to take care of regeneration immediately after a match. A high-quality regeneration supplement supplies the body with fluid and electrolytes, fills the glycogen stores and repairs endured muscle damage. Suitable products:

• RECOVERY DRINK: Fruity regeneration drink, lactose-free. Preparation with water.
• PRO RECOVERY: Efficient, highly professional protein-based regeneration product to balance muscle stress. Lactose-free and without artificial sweeteners. Preparation with water.
• NITROFLOW PERFORMANCE²: The professional tip! Its vasodilatory effect enables better nutrient supply and reduction of metabolic end products (e.g. lactate). Ideal for supporting regeneration.

Author: Remo Jutzeler
Head R&D SPONSER SPORT FOOD
Ing. Applied Food Sciences UAS
MAS Nutrition & Health ETHZ

Fat metabolism

How ultra endurance athletes should optimise their fat metabolism

Because the energy requirement at ultra endurance events amounts to 7000 kcal per day and more, studies advise ultra endurance athletes to optimise their fat metabolism within their training protocol. (Nikolaidis et al., 2018: Nutrition in Ultra-Endurance: State of the Art. Nutrients 10(12):1995).

SPONSER recommends to activate the fat metabolism with regular low-glycogen trainings and to support those with LOW CARB BURNER, ACTIVATOR or ELECTROLYTES TABS. During ultra-endurance competitions paying attention to energy density, including fat- and protein-containing food, is important. Ideal for this: LIQUID ENERGY ULTRA Gel and ULTRA PRO as well as the sports drink ULTRA COMPETITION and - in high heat - SALT CAPS.

Author: Remo Jutzeler