Search results for "Skiing"
showing 10 items of 73 documents
Early involvement and pathway specialization : a dropout track in cross-country skiing?
2013
Early sport specialization is often criticized for its potential to impair long-term athletic development. One of the most frequently cited consequences is dropout from further sport participation. Early diversification, within the Developmental Model of Sport Participation (DMSP), postulates that early sampling of various sports and late specialization should result in fewer dropouts. Still, empirical evidence supporting this claim remains scarce. The purpose of this study was to examine dropout rates among Finnish elite youth skiers in relationship to: (a) their developmental pathways, (b) age of first involvement with organized cross-country skiing, and (c) first encounter with organized…
Unilateral Maximal Isometric Hex Bar Pull Test: Within-Session Reliability and Lower Body Force Production in Male and Female Freeski Athletes
2021
The aim of the study was to (1) assess the within-session reliability of a unilateral isometric hex bar pull (UIHBP) maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) test and, (2) determine unilateral isometric absolute peak force (PFabs) and relative peak force (PF) values in freeski athletes. Twenty-one male and eight female academy to national team freeskiers performed the novel UIHBP MVC task on a force plate and PFabs and relative PF were assessed (1000 Hz). Within-session measures of PFabs offered high reliability on left and right limbs for males (ICC = 0.91–0.94, CV = 2.6–2.2%) and females (ICC = 0.94–0.94, CV = 1.4–1.6%), while relative PF measures showed good to high reliability in both left a…
“Women easily feel that they have lost a year if they don’t ski faster” : Finnish ski coaches’ discursive constructions of gendered dual career pathw…
2023
Objectives Earlier qualitative researchers studying athletes’ dual careers (DCs) have shown that sociocultural discourses on gender are ingrained in DC policies and practices, creating gender inequalities and hierarchies. In this study, we aimed to extend this body of research by examining how Finnish elite youth ski coaches discursively construct athletes’ education and gender in their talk and coaching practices. Similarly, we examined how coaches’ beliefs about athletes' holistic development are interlinked with broader sociocultural discourses on gender. Design Qualitative study. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 Finnish ski coaches (seven male, three female) aged …
Sports injuries in Finnish elite cross-country skiers, swimmers, long-distance runners and soccer players
2011
In sports with different exercise-loading characteristics, acute and overuse injury profiles and gender differences in injuries were investigated. In addition, trainingrelated risk factors for overuse injuries in endurance athletes were studied. This twelve-month retrospective questionnaire study comprised Finnish elite crosscountry skiers (n=149), swimmers (n=154), long-distance runners (n=143) and soccer players (n=128) aged 15–35 years. Questionnaires were sent to the athletes in each sports at the end of the 2006 competition season. Athletes who ended their sports career because of injury were studied in more detail by means of a telephone interview (n=20) 7-11 months after the question…
The Development and Precision of a Custom-Made Skitester
2021
In the sport of cross-country skiing, equipment has a direct influence on results. Ski teams do extensive testing of different ski base grinds and products on a yearly basis. To achieve reliable results, the quality of methods used for testing skis needs to be taken in to account in addition to factors including the physical characteristics of testing personnel and changes in weather conditions. The aim of this study was to introduce a custom-made skitester, that was developed for testing skis on real snow, in laboratory conditions, and to evaluate its precision. The current skitester is capable of glide testing both classic and skate skis as well as kick simulation for the testing of grip …
Validation of 2D Force Measurement Roller Ski and Practical Application.
2022
Several methods could be used to measure the forces from skis or roller skis in cross-country skiing. Equipment that could measure medio-lateral forces may be of good help for investigating the relevant skating techniques. The aim of this study was to validate a pair of newly designed two-dimensional force measurement roller skis. The vertical and medio-lateral forces which were perpendicular to the body of the roller ski could be measured. Forces were resolved into the global coordinate system and compared with the force components measured by a force plate. A static and dynamic loading situation for the force measurement roller ski was performed to reveal the validity of the system. To de…
Unilateral Maximal Isometric Hex Bar Pull Test : Within-Session Reliability and Lower Body Force Production in Male and Female Freeski Athletes
2021
The aim of the study was to (1) assess the within-session reliability of a unilateral isometric hex bar pull (UIHBP) maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) test and, (2) determine unilateral isometric absolute peak force (PFabs) and relative peak force (PF) values in freeski athletes. Twenty-one male and eight female academy to national team freeskiers performed the novel UIHBP MVC task on a force plate and PFabs and relative PF were assessed (1000 Hz). Within-session measures of PFabs offered high reliability on left and right limbs for males (ICC = 0.91–0.94, CV = 2.6–2.2%) and females (ICC = 0.94–0.94, CV = 1.4–1.6%), while relative PF measures showed good to high reliability in both left a…
Zur Achillessehnenbelastung im alpinen Skisport
1987
In an attempt to gain more systematic knowledge of the biomechanical mechanism involved in the genesis of injuries caused by a fall during skiing, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of more than 100 experimental ski falls simulated under controlled conditions. The well-known relation between speed, release time of the ski binding and injury risk of the lower extremity was confirmed by our experimental results. The EMG investigations revealed the central importance of the musculus triceps surae, and hence of the Achilles tendon, during a fall. The results of our biomechanical model indicate that the present method of setting the ski binding according to the tibial strength, is rather ques…
Simulated skiing as a measurement tool for performance in cross-country sit-skiing
2019
The International Paralympic Committee mandates the development of an evidence-based classification system, which requires a measure of performance. Performance in cross-country sit-skiing is mainly dependent on force generated during the poling phase and is enhanced by trunk flexion–extension movements. Since all sit-skiers have neuromuscular impairment, but different ability to control the trunk, this study aimed to verify if simulated action of poling on an adapted ergometer, together with a cluster analysis, could be used for grouping participants with different impairments according to their performance. On the ergometer, eight male and five female participants performed seven poling c…