Improving Balance and Technical Skills of Young Alpine Skiers: Outcomes of a 10-Week Complex Dry-Land Training Program
Limited research has explored the impact of balance training on young alpine skiers, despite its recognized importance in the sport. This study evaluated the effects of a 10-week dry-land balance training program on the balance and skiing technique of skiers aged 9–11 years. The program employed fiv...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Alexandru Zadic Mircea-Nicolae Ordean Dan Monea Vlad Teodor Grosu Rareș-Mihai Pop Cornelia Popovici Emilia Florina Grosu Sorin Simon |
| author_facet | Alexandru Zadic Mircea-Nicolae Ordean Dan Monea Vlad Teodor Grosu Rareș-Mihai Pop Cornelia Popovici Emilia Florina Grosu Sorin Simon |
| author_sort | Alexandru Zadic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Limited research has explored the impact of balance training on young alpine skiers, despite its recognized importance in the sport. This study evaluated the effects of a 10-week dry-land balance training program on the balance and skiing technique of skiers aged 9–11 years. The program employed five training modalities: neuromuscular, plyometric, core stability, proprioceptive, and equipment-based balance training. Thirty participants were divided into experimental and control groups based on their initial SKI IQ scores. The assessments included static balance (BTS P-Walk), explosive power (BTS G-Walk), and on-snow metrics (SKI IQ; balance, pressure, and edging) using CARV technology. The statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in the experimental group for the SKI IQ (F = 13.239; <i>p</i> = 0.001; η<sup>2</sup> = 0.321) in terms of the balance metric (F = 4.800; <i>p</i> = 0.037) and pressure metric (F = 8.084; <i>p</i> = 0.008), and for the static balance parameters, such as mediolateral stability in a two-legged stance (F = 4.304; <i>p</i> = 0.047; η<sup>2</sup> = 0.133) and anteroposterior stability in eyes-closed conditions (F = 14.249; <i>p</i> = 0.001; η<sup>2</sup> = 0.337). The single-leg stance stability and explosive force (F = 6.08; <i>p</i> = 0.02) also showed marked enhancements. The edging performance, however, showed no significant change. This study underscores the value of balance training for enhancing young skiers’ performance metrics and highlights wearable technology as an effective tool for real-time feedback. Integrating balance-focused programs into alpine skiing preparation can boost performance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e6fa613733df4d538c9da8c2468be708 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-e6fa613733df4d538c9da8c2468be7082025-08-20T02:57:41ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-03-01155283110.3390/app15052831Improving Balance and Technical Skills of Young Alpine Skiers: Outcomes of a 10-Week Complex Dry-Land Training ProgramAlexandru Zadic0Mircea-Nicolae Ordean1Dan Monea2Vlad Teodor Grosu3Rareș-Mihai Pop4Cornelia Popovici5Emilia Florina Grosu6Sorin Simon7Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, “Babeş-Bolyai” University, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, University “1 Decembrie 1918”, 510009 Alba-Iulia, RomaniaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, “Babeş-Bolyai” University, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Automotive, Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, “Babeş-Bolyai” University, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaMedicine Faculty, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, “Babeş-Bolyai” University, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, University “1 Decembrie 1918”, 510009 Alba-Iulia, RomaniaLimited research has explored the impact of balance training on young alpine skiers, despite its recognized importance in the sport. This study evaluated the effects of a 10-week dry-land balance training program on the balance and skiing technique of skiers aged 9–11 years. The program employed five training modalities: neuromuscular, plyometric, core stability, proprioceptive, and equipment-based balance training. Thirty participants were divided into experimental and control groups based on their initial SKI IQ scores. The assessments included static balance (BTS P-Walk), explosive power (BTS G-Walk), and on-snow metrics (SKI IQ; balance, pressure, and edging) using CARV technology. The statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in the experimental group for the SKI IQ (F = 13.239; <i>p</i> = 0.001; η<sup>2</sup> = 0.321) in terms of the balance metric (F = 4.800; <i>p</i> = 0.037) and pressure metric (F = 8.084; <i>p</i> = 0.008), and for the static balance parameters, such as mediolateral stability in a two-legged stance (F = 4.304; <i>p</i> = 0.047; η<sup>2</sup> = 0.133) and anteroposterior stability in eyes-closed conditions (F = 14.249; <i>p</i> = 0.001; η<sup>2</sup> = 0.337). The single-leg stance stability and explosive force (F = 6.08; <i>p</i> = 0.02) also showed marked enhancements. The edging performance, however, showed no significant change. This study underscores the value of balance training for enhancing young skiers’ performance metrics and highlights wearable technology as an effective tool for real-time feedback. Integrating balance-focused programs into alpine skiing preparation can boost performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2831balance trainingdry-land trainingalpine ski trainingski technique |
| spellingShingle | Alexandru Zadic Mircea-Nicolae Ordean Dan Monea Vlad Teodor Grosu Rareș-Mihai Pop Cornelia Popovici Emilia Florina Grosu Sorin Simon Improving Balance and Technical Skills of Young Alpine Skiers: Outcomes of a 10-Week Complex Dry-Land Training Program Applied Sciences balance training dry-land training alpine ski training ski technique |
| title | Improving Balance and Technical Skills of Young Alpine Skiers: Outcomes of a 10-Week Complex Dry-Land Training Program |
| title_full | Improving Balance and Technical Skills of Young Alpine Skiers: Outcomes of a 10-Week Complex Dry-Land Training Program |
| title_fullStr | Improving Balance and Technical Skills of Young Alpine Skiers: Outcomes of a 10-Week Complex Dry-Land Training Program |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving Balance and Technical Skills of Young Alpine Skiers: Outcomes of a 10-Week Complex Dry-Land Training Program |
| title_short | Improving Balance and Technical Skills of Young Alpine Skiers: Outcomes of a 10-Week Complex Dry-Land Training Program |
| title_sort | improving balance and technical skills of young alpine skiers outcomes of a 10 week complex dry land training program |
| topic | balance training dry-land training alpine ski training ski technique |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2831 |
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