The purpose of this study was to discover what impact, if any, personal social networks have on an individual’s snowboarding skill progression, and whether any differences emerge based on gender, class, race, or age. Interviews with 10 demographically diverse snowboarders in Washington State, USA, were conducted and analyzed. The study revealed that personal social networks are highly important to snowboarding skill progression, with nine progression benefits noted. It was also found that the type of relationship was important, with the roles of gatekeepers, “godfathers,” and crews as the most critical for progression. Lastly, respondents indicated a variety of methods to access social networks, including social media, events, organizations, industry employment and through existing social networks. To further analyze the findings, an intersectional feminist reading of Castells networking theory was applied, with investigations into gender, race, class, and age patterns. The analysis revealed two overlapping values systems, one based on snowboarding ability and commitment, and one based on alignment of demographics with those who are most valued in the snowboarding world--mainly young, white, middle class men. The research closes with potential solution ideas to improve equitability and inclusion, which can be applied from the grassroots level to large-scale implementation.

The aim of diploma thesis was to create a sequence of snowboard exercises for primary school pupils. These exercises were then tested with children from Základní škola T. G. Masaryka Vimperk, aged 6 to 10 years. In order to create and test the methodical sequence, two winter training sessions were organized. The first five-day session for pupils from the 2nd to the 5th grade took place in December 2017, while the second session for children of the 1st grade was realized in January 2018. Both groups were directed in the same way. On the first day, exercises for getting to know the snowboard were implemented. The remaining days were then spent on the slope. By the last day of training, both groups were able to ride a slope using skidded turns. 58% of the pupils managed to learn frontside carved turns, while 42% learned backside carved turns. The main contribution of the diploma thesis is the sequence of exercises which can be used by teachers and trainers to teach snowboarding.

Title: Injury rate in the ski resorts in the Czech Republic Objectives: Objective of thesis is to obtain knowledges about injury rate in the ski resorts in the Czech republic Methods: I determined and processed information regarding all data about injury rate during winter seasons from 2003/2004 to 2012/2013 in the Czech Republic. Main source of all data was the database of Mountain Rescue Service in the Czech republic. Results: My results show summary of the total number of accidents in each winter seasons. Percentage of injury in alpine skiing, snowboarding and cross country skiing of all injuries. The most common types of injuries and injury localization in the ski resorts in the Czech Republic for the season 2003/2004 - 2012/2013. Keywords: Safety in the mountains, alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross countra skiing, injury

This research provides a sociological analysis of skiing as a form of outdoor recreation and nature tourism in British Columbia, Canada. A qualitative multi-method approach is used, combining discourse analysis, interviews with skiers, and unobtrusive field observation at Whistler Blackcomb and Whitewater ski resorts. Through a focus on discourse, embodied interactions among humans and non-humans, and flows of power, this research describes an environmental ambiguity at the centre of skiing. There is a tension between interpretations of skiing as an environmentally-sustainable practice and notions of skiing as an environmental and social problem. Skiing is based on the symbolic consumption of nature and is understood by many participants as a way of entering into a meaningful relationship with the non-human environment. However, interpretations of skiing as a non-consumptive use of non-human nature are too simple. Social movement groups disrupt pro-environmental discourses of skiing by challenging the sport’s ecological and social legitimacy. Many skiers also articulate a self-reflexive environmental critique of their sport. In these instances, skiing is brought into the realm of politics. Recreational forms of interaction with the non-human environment tend to be at the periphery of environmental sociology. At the same time, sport sociologists tend to focus on the social dimensions of outdoor recreation, while bracketing out non-human nature. This research brings these two fields of inquiry into dialogue with each other, thereby addressing this double lacuna.

This research provides a sociological analysis of skiing as a form of outdoor recreation and nature tourism in British Columbia, Canada. A qualitative multi-method approach is used, combining discourse analysis, interviews with skiers, and unobtrusive field observation at Whistler Blackcomb and Whitewater ski resorts. Through a focus on discourse, embodied interactions among humans and non-humans, and flows of power, this research describes an environmental ambiguity at the centre of skiing. There is a tension between interpretations of skiing as an environmentally-sustainable practice and notions of skiing as an environmental and social problem. Skiing is based on the symbolic consumption of nature and is understood by many participants as a way of entering into a meaningful relationship with the non-human environment. However, interpretations of skiing as a non-consumptive use of non-human nature are too simple. Social movement groups disrupt pro-environmental discourses of skiing by challenging the sport’s ecological and social legitimacy. Many skiers also articulate a self-reflexive environmental critique of their sport. In these instances, skiing is brought into the realm of politics. Recreational forms of interaction with the non-human environment tend to be at the periphery of environmental sociology. At the same time, sport sociologists tend to focus on the social dimensions of outdoor recreation, while bracketing out non-human nature. This research brings these two fields of inquiry into dialogue with each other, thereby addressing this double lacuna.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Connecticut, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-112). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Connecticut, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-112).

This diploma thesis is focused on snowboarding and its popularity among pupils of grammar schools in different towns of the Czech Republic. It contains a theoretical part describing the history of snowboarding and general information about this winter sport. The main method of data collection is the survey intended for pupils of grammar schools in six different towns of the Czech Republic - Prague, Brno, Liberec, České Budějovice, Tábor and Mariánské Lázně. KEYWORDS snowboarding, snowboard, physical activity, winter sport, popularity, grammar school, pupils

This research provides a sociological analysis of skiing as a form of outdoor recreation and nature tourism in British Columbia, Canada. A qualitative multi-method approach is used, combining discourse analysis, interviews with skiers, and unobtrusive field observation at Whistler Blackcomb and Whitewater ski resorts. Through a focus on discourse, embodied interactions among humans and non-humans, and flows of power, this research describes an environmental ambiguity at the centre of skiing. There is a tension between interpretations of skiing as an environmentally-sustainable practice and notions of skiing as an environmental and social problem. Skiing is based on the symbolic consumption of nature and is understood by many participants as a way of entering into a meaningful relationship with the non-human environment. However, interpretations of skiing as a non-consumptive use of non-human nature are too simple. Social movement groups disrupt pro-environmental discourses of skiing by challenging the sport’s ecological and social legitimacy. Many skiers also articulate a self-reflexive environmental critique of their sport. In these instances, skiing is brought into the realm of politics. Recreational forms of interaction with the non-human environment tend to be at the periphery of environmental sociology. At the same time, sport sociologists tend to focus on the social dimensions of outdoor recreation, while bracketing out non-human nature. This research brings these two fields of inquiry into dialogue with each other, thereby addressing this double lacuna. / Arts, Faculty of / Sociology, Department of / Graduate

1 Abstract Name: Complex evaluation of the basic school ski courses in the Czech republic Objective: The objective of this diploma thesis is to evaluate complexly a chosen basic school ski school courses in the Czech republic according to five above mentioned criteria and to confirm or dismiss hypothesisses. Methodology: I created a non-standardized questionnare with open-ended, semi close-ended and close- ended questions to evaluate ski courses according to the above mentioned criteria. This questionnare was sended non-anonymously online via survio.com to randomly chosen basic schools in every single province of the Czech republic. Collected data were statistically analysed in the Survio and Microsoft EXCEL® programm and the results were eriched with graphs and commentary. Results: In this diploma thesis basic school ski courses were evaluated according to determined criteria, at least one hypothesis was related to every criterion. I could confirm that the majority of ski course leaders are ski instructors (50 hours training, no trade licence). I could confirm four other hypothesisses as well, i. e. cross-country skiing is an essential part of more than 50% ski courses, less than 50% of pupils attend basic school ski courses, the majority of ski course instructors are teaching in accordance with the...