Biomechanics of Tactics of Running a Course in Four Alpine Skiing disciplines: First Course Geometry Results

• Authors: Włodzimierz Erdmann , Piotr Aschenbrenner
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Purpose. The aim of the overall research on alpine skiing was examination of the biomechanical approach to tactics of running a course. The aim of this particular paper was presentation of first results on the geometry of courses of four disciplines. Basic procedures. The research covered competitions of alpine skiers during the 2006/2007 FIS World Cup. All four alpine skiing disciplines, i.e. downhill, super giant, giant slalom, and slalom, were taken into account. Each discipline was studied three times: in Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and Norway. 54 to 82 alpine skiers took part in each of the competitions. Differential GPS for geometry of gates setting and video camera for time data were used. Then the distribution of velocity for each runner along the entire course was calculated. Main findings. The first data on geometry of the ski courses revealed a large difference in vertical drop and length between the disciplines, with the angles of inclination, however, being similar. Conclusions. The knowledge of detailed geometry of ski courses is important since up to one-third of competitors do not finish particular runs. It happened that as many as ten skiers ran off the course at the same gate.

Keywords

EN

alpine skiing; downhill; super giant; giant slalom; slalom; tactics; geometry; course

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Human Movement
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 124-127

Dates

published

1 - 12 - 2008

online

16 - 1 - 2009

Contributors

author

Włodzimierz Erdmann

• Chair of Biomechanics and Technology, J. Śniadecki University School of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland

author

Piotr Aschenbrenner

• Chair of Biomechanics and Technology, J. Śniadecki University School of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland

References

• Weibel, K., Huber, A., Spitzenpfeil, P., Performance analyses in alpine ski racing regarding the characters of slopes and course settings. In: Müller E., Lindinger S., Stöggl T., Fastenbauer V. (eds.), Abstract book of the 4th International Congress on Science and Skiing. December 14-20, 2007, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, St. Christoph a. Arlberg, Austria, 41.
• Hraski Ž., Hraski, M., Influence of the skier's body geometry on the duration of the giant slalom turn. In: Müller E., Lindinger S., Stöggl T., Fastenbauer V. (eds.), Abstract book of the 4th International Congress on Science and Skiing. December 14-20/, 2007, Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, St. Christoph a. Arlberg, Austria, 42.
• Müller, E., Niessen, W., Raschner, C., Schwameder, H., Skiing with carving skis - challenges and limits. In: Müller R., Gerber H., Stacoff A. (eds.), Book of Abstracts, International Society of Biomechanics 18th Congress, Eidgenösische Technische Hochschule, July 8-13, 2001, Zürich, Switzerland, 13.
• Nachbauer, W., Course line in slalom and giant slalom [in German]. Leistungsport, 1987, 6, 17-21.
• Reid, R., Gilgien, M., Moger, T., Tjørhom, H., Haugen, P., Kipp, R. et al., Turn characteristics and energy dissipation in slalom. In: Müller E., Lindinger S., Stöggl T., Fastenbauer V. (eds.), Abstract book of the 4th International Congress on Science and Skiing. December 14-20, 2007, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, St. Christoph a. Arlberg, Austria, 37.
• Erdmann, W. S., Giovanis, V., Investigations on kinematics of giant slalom's tactics in alpine skiing. In: Miyashita M., Fukunaga T. (eds.), 16th International Congress of Biomechanics. August 25-29, 1998, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 79.
• Giovanis, V., Kinematics of slalom course running in alpine skiing and problem of traumatology [in Polish]. Doctoral dissertation, Academy of Physical Education, Cracow 1998.
• Erdmann, W. S., Suchanowski, A., Aschenbrenner, P., Geometry and running of the alpine ski FIS World Cup giant slalom. Part one: geometry. In: Hong Y., Johns D. P. (eds.), Proceedings, 18th Symposium of the International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports, June 25-30, 2000, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, vol. II, 637-641.
• Erdmann, W. S., Giovanis, V., Suchanowski, A., Aschenbrenner, P., Geometry and running of the alpine ski FIS World Cup giant slalom. Part two: velocity. In: Blackwell J. R. (ed.), Proceedings, Symposium of the International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports. Works in Progress. July 2001, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, 5.
• Erdmann, W. S., Aschenbrenner, P., Geometry and running of the alpine ski FIS World Cup giant slalom. Part three: velocity as a function of geometry. In: Gianikelis K. E. (ed.), Scientific Proceedings, 20th Symposium of the International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports. July 2002, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain, 101.
• Aschenbrenner, P., Kinematics of competitors' running at the alpine ski giant slalom course and its geometric parameters [in Polish]. Doctoral dissertation, J. Śniadecki University School of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk 2002.
• Aschenbrenner, P., Analysis of running of giant slalom on the basis of intergate times [in Polish]. In: Erdmann W. S. (ed.), Lokomocja '98. Proceedings of the All-Polish Conference. June 5-6, 1998, Gdańsk, Poland, 45-48.

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10038-008-0016-5