A TESTING AND TRAINING ERGOHFTER FOR ALPINE SKIING

Abstract

The presentation will include a slide and video presentation of the development of a testing and training ergometer for alpine skiing. The system has been developed in the Biomechanics Laboratory at Lakehead University working in conjunction with Big Thunder Ski Training Centre in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The development of the ergometer is based on a need for the provision of a motion specific test device to monitor training preparation and performance in elite Alpine skiers. The device takes the form of a sled which carries the athlete along an adjustable incline. Foot contact occurs onto a force platform at the base of the inclined track which has an angular range of 0 to 35'. The vertical impact forces are measured through a series of 16 strain gauges linked into four wheatstone bridges. The bridges are amplified and summed through an A/D convertor and the 12 bit digital signal is manipulated using A.S.Y.S.T., a high level language scientific software package. The software has been designed as a menu driven user friendly package. sled angle, body mass and sampling period are menu options for real time on screen impulse curves. Reaction force provides analogue data for digital conversion into Take Off Velocity (V), Work (W),Maximum Power (P), Power Capacity (PC) and a variety of test specific measures. Eccentric, concentric reaction force curves, contact and flight ratios and fatigue measures are additional measures provided through the software ergometer. Specialized test protocols have been designed to mimic the intensity and duration of Alpine skiing events. A demonstration of the construction, hardware and software design will be presented. Power measures for a subject test sample (N=lO) will be presented for test comparison on alternate anaerobic tests including Wingate, Vertical Jump, Force Platform and Isokinetic muscle Testing. Results will be used as comparative measures to those provided from the ski ergometer.