Personal motivation, as well as engagement in alpine skiing, brought the authors to inspect the differences in average chronological age of alpine skiers, and to present the results to the ...professional public, in order to improve planning and programming of the training process. The paper analyzed the average chronological age of medal winning professional alpine skiers in the World Cups in the 2015-2018 Olympic cycle. The following alpine disciplines were analyzed: Slalom (SL), Giant Slalom (GS), Super-G (SG), Downhill (DH) and Alpine Combination (AC). The obtained results indicate that there was a significant difference in the average chronological age between male and female competitors. The results of the present study show that there were differences in GS, SG, DH, and AC, where male skiers are on average older than female skiers. Conversely, there was no significant difference between male and female skiers in SL. The results of this study could aid coaches and experts in future years of individual management of sports careers of male and female skiers.
This experiment examined changes in body sway after Wingate test (WAnT) in 19 adolescents practicing alpine skiing, subjected to the same type of training load for 4–5 years (10 girls and nine boys). ...The postural examinations were performed with eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), and sway reverenced vision (SRV) in the medial-lateral (ML) and anterior-posterior (AP) planes. The displacement of center of foot pressure (CoP), range of sway (RS), mean sway velocity (MV), way length, and surface area were measured in bipedal upright stance before and after the WAnT to assess the influence of fatigue on postural balance. There were no significant differences in WAnT parameters between girls and boys. Relative peak power (RPP), relative total work (RWtot) were (girls vs. boys) 8.89 ± 0.70 vs. 9.57 ± 1.22 W/kg, p < 0.05 and 227.91 ± 14.98 vs. 243.22 ± 30.24 W/kg, p < 0.05 respectively. The fatigue index (FI) was also on similar level in both genders; however, blood lactate concentration (BLa) was significantly higher in boys (10.35 ± 1.16 mM) than in girls (8.67 ± 1.35 mM) p = 0.007. In the EO examination, statistically significant differences between resting and fatigue conditions in the whole group and after the division into girls and boys were found. In fatigue conditions, significant gender differences were noted for measurements in the ML plane (sway path and RS) and RS in the AP plane. Comparison of the three conditions shows differences between EO vs. EC and SRV in AP plane measured parameters, and for RS in ML plane in rest condition in girls. The strong correlations between FI and CoP parameters mainly in ML plane in the whole group for all examination conditions were noted. By genders, mainly RS in ML plane strongly correlates with FI (r > 0.7). No correlation was found between BLa and CoP parameters (p > 0.06). The presented results indicate that subjecting adolescents of both genders to the same training may reduce gender differences in the postural balance ability at rest but not in fatigue conditions and that girls are significantly superior in postural balance in the ML plane than boys. It was also shown that too little or too much information may be destructive to postural balance in young adolescents.
Adaptability to all types of terrain changes, slopes, and course settings is a key aspect related to the coordinative ability that elite skiers possess. In recent years, several studies have analyzed ...coordinative aspects of different motor actions via the assessment of movement variability (MV), an indicator of the motor control that assesses movement regularity. The aims of this study were (a) to evaluate the influence of different slopes and slalom (SL) gate offsets on MV and performance and (b) to assess the relationship between MV and performance. Four SL courses were set: a flat-turned (FT), a steep-turned (ST), a flat-straighter (FS), and a steep-straighter (SS). Five elite alpine skiers (21.2 ± 3.3 years, 180.2 ± 5.6 cm, 72.8 ± 6.6 kg) completed several runs at maximum speed for each SL course. A total of 77 runs were obtained. The use of an IMU accelerometer attached to the lower back of skiers measured MV through entropy. The skiers’ performance was evaluated with the total time of each run. The one-way repeated measures analysis revealed that the steepness of the slope significantly increases skiers’ MV, concretely between FS and ST courses (p = 0.004). Differences at the 10% level have been found between FS and SS and FT and ST courses (p= 0.055 and p = 0.078, respectively). For a given slope, turned courses (FT and ST) tend to produce a higher MV. In addition, faster times correlate with lower MV (r = 0.587, p = 0.01). It has been observed that both steeper and turned courses produce greater MV and that the best performing skiers have lower MV. Determining MV through entropy can be used to assess skiers’ expertise regarding different types of slopes and gate offsets.
Previous research has shown that high school ski students injure their left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) more often than their right ACL, and that a prevention program focusing on equal load to ...the right and left ski turns prevents ACL injuries. Whether the injuries were in the dominant or non-dominant side of ski students was not determined but may be important knowledge to ski coaches for future design of ski-specific training programs. There is no gold standard on how to investigate the dominant side of alpine skiers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a screening instrument consisting of five questions for identifying side dominance and to evaluate side dominance in competitive adolescent alpine skiers. First, 121 competitive adolescent alpine skiers answered the questions on side dominance using a test-retest design. The questions were: which hand/arm (left/right) or foot/leg (left/right) one uses as the first choice when writing, throwing, kicking a ball, jumping over a fence and stair-climbing. A question about safer/better ski turn to the left or to the right was also added. Second, 274 skiers answered the questions at one occasion. A very good agreement was shown in writing and throwing and kicking a ball, and a fair agreement was shown in jumping over a fence and stair climbing. A total of 243 skiers reported right-sided dominance, and seven skiers reported left-sided dominance. One hundred and nineteen of the 121 skiers who took part in the test-retest design answered the question safer/better ski turn, and of those 70 (59%) reported that they had a safer/better ski turn to one side than to the other side. However, the side was not consistent between the two test occasions, and the question did not correlate with side dominance. A combination of the three questions “What hand/arm do you use as first choice when writing?” “What hand/arm do you use as first choice when throwing?” and “What foot/leg do you use as first choice when kicking a ball?”, may be used to decide side dominance in adolescent alpine skiers. Most adolescent alpine skiers reported right-sided dominance.
Summary
Bone quality is affected by muscle forces and external forces. We investigated how micro-architecture is influenced in elite alpine skiers who have received high loading levels throughout ...their adolescent bone development. Bone strength was higher in skiers, likely due to external forces, but muscle forces may also be a significant contributor.
Introduction
Impact loading and muscle forces affect bone quality, but little is known about how they influence 3 dimensional aspects of bone structure. This study investigated bone quality in female and male elite alpine skiers using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT).
Methods
HR-pQCT at the distal radius and tibia, whole-body lean mass, and muscle strength were assessed in 10 female (22.7 ± 3.9 years) and 12 male (25.5 ± 3.3 years) Canadian national alpine team athletes and compared to recreationally active female (
N
= 10, 23.8 ± 3.2 years) and male (
N
= 12; 23.7 ± 3.6 years) control subjects. HR-pQCT standard parameters and customized cortical and finite element (FE) analyses were performed and analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation.
Results
Male and female skiers had stronger bones than controls at radius (38–49 %,
p
< 0.001) and tibia (24–28 %,
p
< 0.001). This result was not consistently reflected by total bone mineral density (BMD) because higher trabecular BMD occurred in parallel with lower cortical BMD, which was due to a redistribution of mineral leading to a shift of the endocortical margin toward a thicker cortex. The endocortical regional adaptation was likely responsible for the greater strength of the athletes’ bones. Lean mass and muscle strength was 29 to 90 % greater (
p
< 0.001) in athletes compared to controls. Good associations between muscle strength and FE-estimated bone strength were found (
r
= 0.63 to 0.80;
p
< 0.001), although micro-architecture was more strongly associated with muscle outcomes in females than males.
Conclusions
Higher bone strength in elite alpine skiers is achieved through micro-architectural adaptation that is not apparent by BMD measurements alone. The improved micro-architecture at radius and tibia suggests that muscle forces may play an important role in bone adaptation.
Alpine skiers should physically prepare for skiing due to the specific body movements it requires. As balance is essential for the success of competitive alpine skiers, we investigated its importance ...during preparation for alpine skiing in recreational skiers. We included 24 male participants; twelve recreational skiers just after 10 days of alpine skiing, and twelve alpine ski novices. All participants were tested with two balance tests (BAL40 and GYKO). Participants of the two groups did not differ significantly in the results of the BAL40 standard balance test. In contrast, we found significant differences in four out of six variables measured with the GYKO test performed on BOSU trainer during the two-feet stand. Participants specifically differed in the variables overall average body tilt (p=0.02), overall average deviation of body tilt (p=0.00), overall medio-lateral average body tilt (p=0.01), and overall medio-lateral average deviation of body tilt (0.00). Average results were lower for participants of the group of recreational skiers than for participants of the novice alpine ski group, suggesting that balance is important for recreational skiers, either as an acquired trait during skiing, or the result of conditioning training in the preparation period for skiing. According to the results, we would advise recreational skiers as well as people planning to be involved in alpine skiing as a new recreational activity to include balance exercises in the preparation period.
Purpose: The purpose of this research was to diagnose the physical abilities such as speed, strength, agility and endurance of alpine skiers and footballers through the same country tests. Also, the ...purpose was to compare the performance and test results of the above tested against one another. Methods: The sample of 58 individuals came from two groups of men of different sports: skiing (n = 29) aged 18-26 (20.97 ± 2.08 years) and football (n = 29) aged 18-25 (21, 28 ± 1.56 years), while the level in each group was the advanced and the beginner respectively. Until the trials, the ski and football teams had a training program exercising physical abilities and skills three days a week for the specialties and one day a week the select skiing session and the compulsory football session according to the curriculum. In order to diagnose and compare the physical abilities of ski students and football students, the following four tests of Alpine skiing on dry ground were used after the ski season on this day in April 2014: A) Route speed test (route 20m with flight start). B) Explosive power tests of the lower limbs (eightfold with alternating tossing of feet). C) Agility Tests (Slalom's track on a "folder" 5m x 5m). D) Anaerobic test (jumping obstacle 20cm height for 60sec). Results: In the skiing specialty we have a great correlation between speed tests and other physical abilities and agility with endurance (r = -0,72). In football specialty there was a great correlation between speed and power tests (r = - 0.65) and agility with the power (r = - 0.69). In optional skiing, we have a moderate correlation between the tests, while in the A year football students the correlation between speed and strength (r = - 0.81) is distinguished. Conclusions: It is noteworthy that the students of the first year of football as well as the specialists do not have as good results in endurance as compared to the students of the skiing, even though the football game lasts 90 minutes compared to Alpine skiing 1-2 minutes.
To explore the experiences of alpine skiing at the elite level after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction.
A qualitative approach where semi-structured interviews were ...conducted, and an analysis of the manifest content was performed.
Five ski high school students, two male and three female skiers, who had suffered ACL injuries and undergone ACL reconstructions.
: Seven categories were identified. The participants described their perceived opportunities with regard to returning to alpine skiing after ACL injury and reconstruction as something positive to do with self-belief, being mentally and physically prepared, regaining confidence in their own ability, being given time and using active strategies. In contrast, perceived barriers to a return to elite alpine skiing gave rise to negative feelings, for example, fear, disheartenment, a total lack of or ambivalent confidence in their own ability and the use of passive strategies.
The two male skiers returned to alpine skiing. They reported confidence in their own ability, active strategies and support on all levels, as well as enhanced physical ability. The female skiers did not return to their pre-injury level of competitive alpine skiing. They stated a lack of support on all levels, deterioration in their physical ability and two out of three reported passive strategies and no or ambivalent confidence in their own ability. The most important factors were family support, support on all levels, access to a physiotherapist and time given.
Alpine ski racing is a complex sport requiring a combination of physical fitness attributes. This study aims to present a framework for evaluating the physical fitness of young alpine skiers and ...examine changes between pre- and post-season assessments. Seventeen young alpine ski racers participated, and assessments were conducted before and after the competitive race season. The assessments included anthropometric measurements, body composition analysis, countermovement jumps, maximal isometric strength evaluation, and maximal oxygen uptake testing. The results showed significant improvements in jump height, jump momentum, maximal heart rate and cycling workload between pre- and post-season assessments. However, no significant changes were observed in body composition variables, isometric strength, or maximal oxygen uptake. This comprehensive evaluation may provide valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of ski racers, facilitating the design of tailored training programs, identifying areas for improvement, and assisting in the early identification of talented young athletes.
Skiing into modernity Denning, Andrew
2014., 20141126, 2014, 2014-11-26, Letnik:
3
eBook
Skiing into Modernityis the story of how skiing moved from Europe's Scandinavian periphery to the mountains of central Europe, where it came to define the modern Alps and set the standard for skiing ...across the world.Denning offers a fresh, sophisticated, and engaging cultural and environmental history of skiing that alters our understanding of the sport and reveals how leisure practices evolve in unison with our changing relationship to nature. Denning probes the modernist self-definition of Alpine skiers and the sport's historical appeal for individuals who sought to escape city strictures while achieving mastery of mountain environments through technology and speed-two central features distinguishing early twentieth-century cultures.Skiing into Modernitysurpasses existing literature on the history of skiing to explore intersections between work, tourism, leisure, development, environmental destruction, urbanism, and more.
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