Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-80).

No description available.

For coaches to qualitatively analyze the performance of sport skills as executed by their students, they must possess an internal image of the desired skill against which to make comparisons (Hoffman, 1983; Pinheiro & Simon, 1992). Leas and Chi (1993) have indicated that there are differences between novice and expert swimming coaches in the internal image of the freestyle stroke. They further reported group differences in their ability to diagnose errors in movement form. Study 1 extended that investigation to include a beginning and advanced skill in downhill snow skiing. Two groups of downhill ski instructors (n=8) certified at Level II (n=4) and Examiner status (n=4) were compared on their knowledge of the prototypical versions of the wedge and open parallel turns. They were subsequently tested on their ability to diagnose errors in incorrectly performed videotape versions of those turns. Two Level H instructors internalized the skill similarly to the level of the Examiners on their knowledge of the prototypical skills, while the other two instructors did not appear to have constructed the same type of prototypical model. On the wedge turn diagnostic task, Level II instructors misdiagnosed 50% of the primary errors in student performance compared to a perfect performance by Examiners. On the open parallel diagnostic task, performance across groups was similar for the primary error. It was suggested that the open parallel level of skiing is similar to the skiing ability of Level II instructors, which may have enhanced their ability to better diagnose the errors associated with that skill compared to the wedge turn. In Study 2, participants prescribed exercises for the errors identified in Study 1. Results indicated that exercises primarily addressed errors in the same order as they were prioritized. The lesson plans of Level II participants, however, attempted to address 35% more errors than Examiners. The use of part-task teaching methods, used by seven of eight participants, was subsequently addressed and theoretical implications were discussed. A possible theory of expertise explaining group differences was described. / Graduation date: 1999

Syftet med detta arbete är att ta fram den ultimata träkärnan utefter uppspaltade önskemål på egenskaper i ett par allmountainskidor med nordiska träslag. Studien är deskriptiv och kvantitativ då den syftar till att mäta förändringsgraden under påverkan på träslagen. För att få in data till mina frågeställningar har tester genomförts som genererar datainsamling. En förundersökning gjordes med intervjuer för att få fram ett mer specificerat underlag för att konstruera vilken metod jag skulle ha i det slutgiltiga arbetet. Resultatet av studien visade att träslaget bok hade de bästa egenskaperna vad gäller böjhållfasthet. Ask hade de bästa egenskaperna när det kom till testerna på vridstyvhet. Det negativa med dessa träslag är att de är för tunga. Det lättaste träslaget av de som var med i testerna var poppel. Därför har jag valt att i den slutgiltiga träkärnan kombinera träslag. Två olika förslag har tagits fram. Den ena med en kombination av bok och poppel, den andra med ask och poppel. Den första ger en förhållandevis lätt skida med bra böjhållfasthet. Den andra en lätt skida med bra vridstyvhet. Dessa två träkärnor kommer användas i byggandet av mina skidor och testas på berget. / The purpose of this work is to produce the most optimal wood core with the desired requirements in an all-mountain ski using Scandinavian wood. The study is descriptive and quantitative as it aims to measure the rate of change under the influence of wood species. In order to collect data for my research questions, tests have been carried out which generate data collection. A preliminary investigation was done with interviews to obtain a more detailed basis for constructing the method I would use in the final work. The results of the study showed that the wood type beech had the best results in terms of flexural strength. Ash had the best results when it came to tests on torsional rigidity. The down side of these woods is that they are too heavy. The lightest wood species of those involved in the tests was poplar. Therefore, I have chosen to combine species in the final wood core. Two different suggestions have been developed. One with a combination of beech and poplar, the other one with ash and poplar. The first provides a relatively light ski with good flexural strength. The second produced a light ski with good torsional rigidity. These two wood cores will be used in the construction of my skis and tested on the mountain.

Thesis (MS )--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2008. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Daniel P. Heil. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-51).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Ottawa, 2004. / Leaf 129 is upside-down. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 329-351).

A model of constrained utility maximizing behaviour is developed to explain how a representative individual allocates his ski days amongst alternative sites. The physical characteristics of the ski areas and the individual's skiing ability are explicit arguments in the utility function; the budget allocation is given along with the parametric costs to ski (including travel costs, entrance fees, equipment costs and the opportunity cost of his time). Shares (a site's share being the proportion of ski days that the individual spends at that site) are derived and assumed multinomially distributed, a stochastic specification which maintains the inherent properties of the shares. Maximum likelihood estimation confirms the basic hypothesis that costs, ability and characteristics all are important determinants of the sites' shares. / Arts, Faculty of / Vancouver School of Economics / Graduate

La performance d'un skieur de fond n'est pas uniquement déterminée par sa forme physique et sa technique, elle est profondément influencée par les conditions météorologiques dans lesquelles il compétitionne. En effet, la pratique du ski de fond repose sur l'interaction délicate de divers facteurs, parmi lesquels l'interaction entre les skis cirés et la neige joue un rôle essentiel. Bien qu'une équipe de ski de fond ne puisse pas contrôler les conditions météorologiques, elle peut essayer d'améliorer les performances de ses skis en jouant avec les propriétés de ceux-ci, notamment en modifiant leur comportement en friction. De ce fait, un système servant à mesurer le coefficient de friction d'un ski sur la neige est un outil idéal pour quantifier les performances des différentes cires sous différentes conditions, introduisant ainsi une nouvelle perspective plus objective de l'évaluation de l'équipement des skieurs. La friction est un phénomène fondamental en physique qui se produit lorsque deux surfaces sont en contact et résistent au mouvement relatif l'une par rapport à l'autre. Ce mémoire développe sur différents fondements théoriques de la friction d'une perspective physique et moléculaire, suivi de l'analyse de différents facteurs tribologique en lien avec un ski. Par la suite, ce mémoire présente la démarche de conception d'un outil de mesure permettant de déterminer expérimentalement le coefficient de friction d'un ski de fond. Ce système est en mesure de représenter fidèlement le comportement du ski lors de la pratique de ce sport. Les résultats montrent une diminution du coefficient de friction statique avec l'augmentation de la force normale et une augmentation du coefficient de friction avec l'augmentation de la vitesse du mouvement d'adhérence. Il a également été observé une interaction entre le type de cire et la masse utilisée. Des recommandations sont ensuite effectuées en ce qui concerne une deuxième version de l'outil de mesure développé. Celles-ci comprennent des considérations de conception, d'assemblage et d'expérimentation. Néanmoins, le système conçu, fabriqué et testé a permis de démontrer la faisabilité d'un appareil de mesure du coefficient de friction en contexte de courses de ski de fond, et d'en prouver le concept. / The performance of a cross-country skier is not solely determined by their physical fitness and technique; it is profoundly influenced by the weather conditions in which they compete. Cross-country skiing relies on the interaction of various factors, among which the interaction between waxed skis and snow plays a crucial role. While a cross-country ski team cannot control the weather conditions, they can seek to enhance the performance of their skis by changing their properties, particularly by modifying the friction behavior of the skis. Therefore, a system designed to measure the friction coefficient of a ski on snow is an ideal tool to quantify the performance of different waxes under various conditions. This introduces a new, unbiased perspective to the evaluation of skier equipment. Friction is a fundamental physical phenomenon that occurs when two surfaces are in contact and resist relative movement. This thesis will delve into different theoretical foundations of friction from both a physical and molecular perspective, followed by an analysis of various tribological factors related to skiing. Additionally, this thesis presents the design process of the measurement tool which experimentally determines the friction coefficient of a cross-country ski. This system accurately represents the ski behavior during their performance of the sport. Once the machine is designed and manufactured, an experimentation plan is developed and executed. The results show a decrease in static friction coefficient with normal force and it increases with speed. An interaction between the type of wax and the mass used was also observed. Recommendations are then provided regarding a second version of the developed tribometer, including design, assembly, and experimentation considerations. Nevertheless, the designed, manufactured, and tested tribometer has demonstrated feasibility and proven the concept of a friction coefficient measurement device in the context of cross-country ski races.

No description available.

This study critically examined how three Canadian ski resorts markets to the Nexus Generation (population cohort aged 18 to 35 years) by evaluating the marketing practices of three leading ski resorts owned by a major resort development company located in Canada. The research objectives were to critically review the resorts' marketing methods for profiling and targeting the Nexus Generation, and evaluate the effectiveness of these methods based on established theory in generational marketing. The study followed a case study approach and a qualitative research methodology. Marketing Directors from the three ski resorts were recruited into the study and interviewed using semi-structured interview methods. Interviews were conducted on-site at the respective resorts in order to provide a more natural environment for the participants and to facilitate field observations and collection of marketing plans and materials. Data analysis focused on the resorts' profiles and amenities, their target consumer groups, and their marketing approaches, including any use of generational marketing methods, and any targeting of Nexus. The results indicate that the ski resorts' application of generational marketing as a marketing strategy and their perceptions of Nexus as a market segment correlated well with theories of generational marketing and the Nexus generation. The Nexus generation was not identified as a specific target market, however, it overlapped many of the target groups outlined by the ski resorts. Although not marketed to directly, Nexus was identified as an important group and in particular their vitality and youth were valued as a desirable quality to have associated with the resort. Generational marketing was used by each of the resorts to varying degrees, however, further steps could be taken in this area such as determining major world and life experiences that have affected the attitudes of skiing consumers, including their perceptions of critical ski resort amenities and services, and their attitudes towards money and consumerism more generally. The analysis contributed to the literature by providing a concrete case study that critically evaluated generational marketing approaches at three Canadian ski resorts, and points the way for further use of generational marketing methods in the ski industry.