The aim of the work is to accomplish the social-pedagogical research in the area of skiing and snowboarding among children and adolescents in South Bohemia. The first part concentrates on history and equipment of both winter sports. The practical part in the beginning of this work is focused on the selection of appropriate research methods to ensure the reliability of the investigation. This is followed by a selection of a representative of the population who support the validity of the survey and data collection. The focus of the work is based on evaluation of the data obtained, since it can be used in schools when planning winter courses. Analysis and interpretation of the findings of the research not only reveals the real interest in the sport, but is expected to be used in the planning of school activities.

[Truncated abstract] The aim of the research was to explore the association between wrist guard use and wrist fracture risk in snowboarders in Australia. During the study, the opportunity was also taken to examine the relationship between wearing wrist guards and the severity of wrist and elbow injury. A case-control study was conducted at the Mount Buller Medical Centre, Victoria, Australia. A total of 494 participants was recruited during the 2004 and 2005 ski seasons. Cases were defined as any snowboarder seen at the Clinic with a fractured wrist (N = 119), and controls as any snowboarder seen at the clinic for any reasons other than a fractured wrist (N = 375). Severity of forearm injuries were defined and analysed separately. Study participants completed a questionnaire consisting of: basic demographics (age and sex only); wrist guard use on the day of presentation; normal use of protective equipment; the number of days spent snowboarding that season; the ability of the snowboarder; and ski run difficulty. Risk taking behaviour was assessed by a history of any previous fracture or joint injury and psychometric questions. Clinic medical staff recorded site and severity of fractures and soft tissue injuries. Logistic regression was used to obtain adjusted odds ratios for these risk factors against the main outcome measure. Presence of wrist fracture and injury in snowboarders with and without wrist guards. ... There was a significant association between wrist guard use and soft tissue elbow injuries (adjusted odds ratio = 17.6, p = 0.011, 95% CI: 1.93 – 160.2), but no significant association with elbow fractures (adjusted odds ratio = 1.84, p = 0.385, 95% CI: 0.46 – 7.30). There was thus no evidence in this study that wrist guards increase the occurrence of other severe injuries in the forearm by transferring the impact force away from the protected wrist up the arm. No evidence was found for compensatory risk taking behaviour in participants wearing protective equipment. A local injury prevention strategy was implemented in schools in the Mt Buller district during the course of this study. Education about the protective effects of wrist guards enabled a policy change in the local secondary college so that wrist guard use is now mandatory for all snowboarders in the school ski programme: That policy states:

The second (index finger) to fourth (ring finger) digit length ratio (2D:4D) is known to be a putative marker of prenatal exposure to the testosterone. It has been reported that fetal testosterone may be critical for development of morphological and psychological traits such as quality of the cardiovascular system, visuo-spatial ability, risk-taking behavior and behavioral masculinity. Testosterone-driven attributes are associated with success in male-to- male physical competition, which may be proxied by ability in sports. Many studies have found that 2D:4D is sexually dimorphic and low (male-typical) 2D:4D ratio is associated with athletic performance. This study aims to investigate possible associations of performance in sport with 2D:4D ratio, personality characteristics (Big Five model), willing to take risks and training habits, in a sample of 57 top and 57 recreational snowboard racers. We did not find any associations between 2D:4D ratio and sport performance, no significant differences were found in 2D:4D ratio between samples. We found negative associations between agreeableness and sport performance; individuals with low agreeableness achieved higher results in the real competition of freestyle snowboarding. Low agreeableness used to be associated with aggressiveness, emulation and...

Elite freestyle snowboarders often expose themselves to large risks while performing their sport. A natural response to risk is fear, and it is the aim of this study to explore how elite freestyle snowboarders experience and cope with emotions of fear in conjunction with performing their sport. When examining these mechanisms, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) will be used as the theoretical framework. The aim is to try to determine if the riders accept or avoid situations, thoughts and emotions of fear. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with seven elite freestyle snowboarders (six men and one woman). The content of the interviews where processed with theory driven thematic analysis and inductive thematic analysis. The analysis revealed eight themes related to the athletes’ experience of fear: (1) Sources of fear, (2) Fear inducing events and situations, (3) Physiological responses, (4) Cognitive changes, (5) Action tendencies, (6) Fear appraisal, (7) Fear and risk and (8) Fear as a problem. In the analysis of the participants’ coping strategies for fear two themes emerged: Coping strategies not related to ACT and ACT-related coping strategies. It can be concluded from this study that elite freestyle snowboarders at times experience fear when exposed to high risk of injury, and can interpret this experience both as a negative and positive for well-being and performance. Participants use a range of coping strategies for fear; some which are in line with traditional sport psychology with an avoidance approach. Despite no previous ACT training, some participants have developed an accepting approach to relate to fear. The complexity of ACT as a theoretical framework is also demonstrated in this study due to the difficulties in categorizing the distinction between processes and orientations of strategies.

This academic work deals with children who are school age or younger school age and their interest in skiing and snowboarding. It tries to expose the reason of decreasing attendance at ski courses offered by schools. The research made by questionnaire shows that most of the children attending lower grades of elementary schools do some sport. They would also like to attend the ski course but they often listed finances as the obstacle. The results of interviews made with teachers of elementary schools and high schools display that only the children who had experienced winter sports either before entering elementary school or soon after entering school want to participate. This work considers as important placing the ski courses at the first grade of the elementary schools. The number of children interested in winter sports would increase. More of them would consider participating at ski courses that help raising the physical and mental condition. Keywords: younger school age, physical activities, snowboarding, skiing

Heading: Injuries during doing winter sports on the ski slopes in the Czech Republic Objectives: The main objective of the diploma theses was to determine the incidence of accidents in the Czech mountains during the winter seasons from 2000 - 2001 to 2009 - 2010. Methods: We focused on gathering data and information regarding the number of injuries on the ski slopes. The main source of information was the database of Mountain Rescue Service of the Czech Republic that provided us with sets of injuries that happened during skiing and snowboarding within the winter seasons 2000 - 2010. Results: The results of this diploma thesis were statistics of injuries that happened during doing the winter sports for the years 2000 - 2010 and their processing. Keywords: injury, skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing

This diploma thesis deals with the marketing strategy of the sport club called Boroboard. This club takes place in Samokov, Bulgaria. The club competes in snowboard disciplines. On base of the theoretical knowledge, there will be made external analysis, wich will help to define possible problems, they will have to deal with next season. The thesis will be plan of possible actions, that could be done for the future prosperity. KEY WORDS Marketing strategy, Marketing mix, Marketing comunication, Snowboarding

Title: Comparison of selected parameters when skiing and snowboarding. Objectives: The aim of this work is to compare pulse rate and functioning speed while skiing and snowboarding in the slalom track. Methods: Statistical indicators used to calculate BMI (body mass index), pulse rate measuring using the Polar brand sport tester, the stopwatches to time the functioning speed, statistical methods to calculate the arithmetic average. Results: According to the results the hypothesis H1 was confirmed, so the functioning speed while skiing will be shorter than while snowboarding in the slalom track. In second hypothesis H2, the fact that the volume of strain while snowboarding is higher than while skiing in the slalom track did not confirm. Key Words: skiing, snowboarding, pulse rate, speed, slalom track

Snowboard media producers attempt to create subculturally relevant videos that connect with the audience. Videos provide the opportunity to report and document snowboarding activity, highlight new developments and provide visibility to prominent participants and associated businesses. Being a well-known and esteemed snowboarding participant is advantageous to being a producer, as it provides an identifiable cultural capital and implies a trustworthy ‘by-riders-for-riders’ philosophy. Connecting with the viewers is vital, as the audience plays a role in the distribution of videos by sharing and endorsing them through their social networks. Motivating factors in audience media sharing, also known as media spreading, include status seeking, improving credibility, personal satisfaction and personal expression. Snowboarding was founded on anti-mainstream and anti-commercialism beliefs, which means that incorporating advertising and promotional messaging could negatively impact on audience connection. Yet, filming and producing snowboarding videos is difficult and expensive. Advertising represents an opportunity to attract funding and support to assist with production costs and, ultimately, provide profit. In order to accommodate advertising into their videos, producers are sometimes required to compromise their standards. This compromise represents a threat to audience connection. Producers believe that high quality, innovative snowboarding action footage provides the best opportunity to wow the audience. Various forms of advertising, including stealth marketing, sponsored journalism, and hybrid messaging, are often displayed in the moments between action footage shots, but advertising compromise can also affect action footage, particularly on client-funded projects. How advertising is incorporated can also depend on the industry the advertiser operates in. Alcohol brand advertising is identified as highly restrictive due to legal implications and public perceptions. Advertisers from businesses strongly related to the snowboarding subculture are more aware of their competitors’ presence in videos, which can cause conflict. Ski field support can be varied, despite high levels of visibility in the videos.

Diss. Wirtsch.-wiss. St. Gallen, 2005 ; Nr. 3101. / Literaturverz.