For those of you who don’t know CV (cardio vascular) fitness refers to the ability of the heart and lungs to provide the body with enough nutrients (mainly oxygen) for it to function during activity and remove waste products such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid also. A CV system that is in good shape will allow an athlete to work harder and for longer periods of time. Some sports such as weight lifting don’t develop the CV system very well as very little oxygen is required by the muscles. However, there are a good few sports that require the CV system to be working well. Below we look at three of the best sports for developing CV fitness.
Skiing. It has been proven that cross-country skiing demands more of the cardio vascular system than any other sport. This is because competitive events usually take place over very long distances and skiers encounter lots of different inclines to conquer. Additionally, because almost all the muscles of the body are working at the same time in this sport, the CV system need to be in great shape to make sure each of them gets the nutrients they need. So if you’re looking to build your CV system, switch your snowboards for skis next time you’re on the slopes.
Cycling. The sport of cycling (specifically road riding) is one tough exercise on the heart and lungs. The 7 time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong is testament to that, having one of the highest VO2 max scores of any athlete. This means that his body was able to take in and process more oxygen per minute than almost any other athlete on the planet. Based on that evidence, if you’re thinking about getting rid of your old cycling machine or mountain bikes, you might want to think again.
Kayaking. Despite the fact a kayaker uses their lower body very little in this sport compared to most aerobically demanding disciplines, his or her CV system still gets a pounding. This is largely down to the fact that kayakers use their upper-bodies a vast amount and there are hundreds of smaller muscles here demanding the large supply of oxygen and removal of lots of carbon dioxide. For second hand kayaks and extreme sports equipment check out EST.
