Force output in giant-slalom skiing: A practical model of force application effectiveness.

Alpine ski racers require diverse physical capabilities. While enhanced force production is considered key to high-level skiing, its relevance is convoluted. The aims of this study were to i) clarify the association between performance path length and velocity, ii) test the importance of radial forc...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Matt R Cross, Clément Delhaye, Jean-Benoit Morin, Maximilien Bowen, Nicolas Coulmy, Frédérique Hintzy, Pierre Samozino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0244698&type=printable
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850241141199339520
author Matt R Cross
Clément Delhaye
Jean-Benoit Morin
Maximilien Bowen
Nicolas Coulmy
Frédérique Hintzy
Pierre Samozino
author_facet Matt R Cross
Clément Delhaye
Jean-Benoit Morin
Maximilien Bowen
Nicolas Coulmy
Frédérique Hintzy
Pierre Samozino
author_sort Matt R Cross
collection DOAJ
description Alpine ski racers require diverse physical capabilities. While enhanced force production is considered key to high-level skiing, its relevance is convoluted. The aims of this study were to i) clarify the association between performance path length and velocity, ii) test the importance of radial force, and iii) explore the contribution of force magnitude and orientation to turn performance. Ski athletes (N = 15) were equipped with ski-mounted force plates and a global navigation satellite system to compute the following variables over 14 turns: path length (L), velocity normalized energy dissipation [Δemech/vin], radial force [Fr], total force (both limbs [Ftot], the outside limb, and the difference between limbs), and a ratio of force application (RF = Fr/Ftot). Data were course-averaged or separated into sectional turn groupings, averaged, and entered into stepped correlation and regression models. Our results support Δemech/vin as a discriminative performance factor (R2 = 0.50-0.74, p < .003), except in flat sections. Lower course times and better Δemech/vin were associated with greater Fr (R2 = 0.34-0.69 and 0.31-0.52, respectively, p < .032), which was related to both Ftot and RF (β = 0.92-1.00 and 0.63-0.81, respectively, p < .001) which varied in predictive order throughout the sections. Ftot was associated with increased outside limb force and a more balanced contribution of each limb (β = 1.04-1.18 and -0.65- -0.92, respectively, p < .001). Fr can be improved by either increasing total force output or by increasing technical effectiveness (i.e., proportionally more force radially) which should increase the trajectories available to the skier on the ski course.
format Article
id doaj-art-de0ccf25914d4220abd75b7b4b20de56
institution OA Journals
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-de0ccf25914d4220abd75b7b4b20de562025-08-20T02:00:41ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01161e024469810.1371/journal.pone.0244698Force output in giant-slalom skiing: A practical model of force application effectiveness.Matt R CrossClément DelhayeJean-Benoit MorinMaximilien BowenNicolas CoulmyFrédérique HintzyPierre SamozinoAlpine ski racers require diverse physical capabilities. While enhanced force production is considered key to high-level skiing, its relevance is convoluted. The aims of this study were to i) clarify the association between performance path length and velocity, ii) test the importance of radial force, and iii) explore the contribution of force magnitude and orientation to turn performance. Ski athletes (N = 15) were equipped with ski-mounted force plates and a global navigation satellite system to compute the following variables over 14 turns: path length (L), velocity normalized energy dissipation [Δemech/vin], radial force [Fr], total force (both limbs [Ftot], the outside limb, and the difference between limbs), and a ratio of force application (RF = Fr/Ftot). Data were course-averaged or separated into sectional turn groupings, averaged, and entered into stepped correlation and regression models. Our results support Δemech/vin as a discriminative performance factor (R2 = 0.50-0.74, p < .003), except in flat sections. Lower course times and better Δemech/vin were associated with greater Fr (R2 = 0.34-0.69 and 0.31-0.52, respectively, p < .032), which was related to both Ftot and RF (β = 0.92-1.00 and 0.63-0.81, respectively, p < .001) which varied in predictive order throughout the sections. Ftot was associated with increased outside limb force and a more balanced contribution of each limb (β = 1.04-1.18 and -0.65- -0.92, respectively, p < .001). Fr can be improved by either increasing total force output or by increasing technical effectiveness (i.e., proportionally more force radially) which should increase the trajectories available to the skier on the ski course.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0244698&type=printable
spellingShingle Matt R Cross
Clément Delhaye
Jean-Benoit Morin
Maximilien Bowen
Nicolas Coulmy
Frédérique Hintzy
Pierre Samozino
Force output in giant-slalom skiing: A practical model of force application effectiveness.
PLoS ONE
title Force output in giant-slalom skiing: A practical model of force application effectiveness.
title_full Force output in giant-slalom skiing: A practical model of force application effectiveness.
title_fullStr Force output in giant-slalom skiing: A practical model of force application effectiveness.
title_full_unstemmed Force output in giant-slalom skiing: A practical model of force application effectiveness.
title_short Force output in giant-slalom skiing: A practical model of force application effectiveness.
title_sort force output in giant slalom skiing a practical model of force application effectiveness
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0244698&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT mattrcross forceoutputingiantslalomskiingapracticalmodelofforceapplicationeffectiveness
AT clementdelhaye forceoutputingiantslalomskiingapracticalmodelofforceapplicationeffectiveness
AT jeanbenoitmorin forceoutputingiantslalomskiingapracticalmodelofforceapplicationeffectiveness
AT maximilienbowen forceoutputingiantslalomskiingapracticalmodelofforceapplicationeffectiveness
AT nicolascoulmy forceoutputingiantslalomskiingapracticalmodelofforceapplicationeffectiveness
AT frederiquehintzy forceoutputingiantslalomskiingapracticalmodelofforceapplicationeffectiveness
AT pierresamozino forceoutputingiantslalomskiingapracticalmodelofforceapplicationeffectiveness