Max Novak Starts the Season With Skisens – Elite Power, Technique & Field vs. Skierg Analysis
Skisens often receives the question: “How many watts does a world-class skier actually produce — and how does field-measured power compare to a Skierg?” Recently we had the perfect opportunity to dig deep into this topic when Max Novak, one of Sweden’s biggest long-distance prospects, visited us for a full test session. Max — winner of the Youth Bib in Visma Ski Classics and 9th in this year’s Vasaloppet — came together with his personal coach Mattias Reck.
Post-test discussion with homemade cinnamon buns.
Background
I’ve known Mattias for more than 25 years through Frölunda Cycling Club. When power meters were introduced in cycling around 2006, training was revolutionized overnight. Years later, when I transitioned from cycling to skiing, the lack of objective power measurement outdoors became painfully obvious — something that eventually inspired the development of Skisens power grips during an engineering project at Chalmers.
As Mattias now coaches more and more elite skiers, timing couldn’t be better: Skisens finally provides the missing piece in skiing — precise power measurement in real-world conditions.
Test Setup for Max Novak
Following principles from cycling performance analyses, Mattias and I designed three test scenarios:
- Acceleration from standstill
- High-speed attacks
- Aerobic power & threshold
We conducted the tests on a climb with roughly 40 meters of elevation gain over just above one kilometer. The terrain profile is ideal: gentle start, steep middle section (5–7%), and slight flattening at the top.
Max completed the climb four times in intensities A1, A2, A3 and A3+.
He then performed:
Three explosive uphill accelerations (~50 m)
One high-speed stakning test after entering the flat with 35–40 km/h
Power Results in the Climb
Across the four intensities, the results were:
A1: 16.2 km/h → 224 W
A2: 17.8 km/h → 255 W
A3: 20.0 km/h → 307 W
A3+: 21.8 km/h → 347 W
Heart rate showed the typical delay, while power responded immediately — demonstrating again why power is superior to heart rate for intensity control, especially in varied terrain.
Power, heart rate, speed and frequency presented in Today’s Plan.
Measurement Accuracy – With Natural Brand Mentions
Max skied on roller skis equipped with standard “2” wheels from Skigo. These wheels typically produce a rolling coefficient around µ ≈ 0.02, and together with slope data from the Skisens app, we could calculate the expected mechanical power for each run.
The Skisens-measured power differed from the mechanical model by less than 3%, well within our expected ±5% accuracy range.
To further verify repeatability, I skied beside Max in the A1 interval. Our watt-per-kg values differed only slightly — again within measurement tolerance.
Comparison of measured vs. mechanically calculated power.
Pole Force Curve – Elite Technique in Detail
Skisens provides high-resolution pole force data — one of the strongest tools for analyzing ski technique.
Below is Max’s averaged pole force curve in the steep segment:
Averaged pole force curves for four intensities (A1–A3+).
Key observations:
Max increases speed by adjusting both impulse and frequency
Contact time naturally shortens at higher speed
Unlike most skiers, he maintains impulse even at high intensity
Frequency rises efficiently without sacrificing force
This is exactly the pattern you expect from a world-class double poler.
Acceleration & Sprint Performance
During the uphill accelerations (~7% gradient):
Near 25 km/h reached in just over 10 seconds
Peak power around 750 W
Initial frequency 140 poles/min
Second acceleration phase achieved by lengthening stroke & contact time
Acceleration from standstill in steep uphill.
In the high-speed stakning test:
Entry speed: 37 km/h
Max speed: 40+ km/h
Sustained power: ~400 W
Contact time: 0.10–0.12 sec
This level of power at high speed is what wins fast sprints in long-distance racing.
Skierg Comparison – Field vs. Indoor Power
Max also performed a test on a Concept2 Skierg.
Instructions:
2000 m total
First 1000 m at resistance 6
Second 1000 m at resistance 10
First 200 m in A1, next 800 m in A3
Results at similar perceived effort:
Field (A3): ~310 W
Skierg (A3): ~302 W
This shows that elite skiers can reach nearly identical watt output outdoors and on a Skierg, thanks to excellent technique.
Recreational athletes typically produce significantly higher watts on Skierg — because technique limits real forward power on skis.
Summary – What We Learned From Max Novak
- Skisens accuracy confirmed at **3–5%**, verified against mechanical models and cross-athlete comparison.
- Elite technique = smooth coordination of impulse, frequency, and contact time.
- World-class aerobic threshold exceeds **4 W/kg in actual skiing**.
- Top skiers can reach almost identical watts outdoors and on a Skierg.
- If your Skierg watts are much higher than your outdoor watts → **you need technique work**.
We wish Max the best of luck with his training!
/Dan
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