The purpose of this study was to examine what main factors are perceived as important for the talent development environment in a successful cross-country skiing association. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with eight participants with different positions within the cross-country ski association. All participants were over 18 years old. The models Athletic Talent Development Environment (ATDE) and The Environment Success Factors (ESF) were used as theoretical frameworks. Using thematic content analysis, the interview results were analyzed, and the results were later divided into the following main themes; the micro-level sports area, micro-level non-sports area, macro level, conditions, process, organizational development and culture, individual development and performance, team performance, and environmental efficiency. The three overarching factors that were perceived as important for a good talent development environment were: To conduct good youth activities with supportive relationships and competent coaches. That sports goals are supported by the environment through the association, family and sports-oriented high schools and universities. To focus on long-term development through a permissive environment and a high degree of autonomy. Future research of interest would have been to study other cross-country skiing environments as well as environments where associations' activities are not conducted in connection with upper secondary school or university / Syftet med studien var att undersöka faktorer som upplevs vara viktiga i en talangutvecklingsmiljö hos en idrottsligt framgångsrik längdskidförening.Insamlingen av data skedde genom semistrukturerade intervjuer som genomfördes med åtta deltagare med olika positioner inom längdskidföreningen. Samtliga deltagare var över 18 år. Som teoretiskt ramverk användes modellerna Athletic Talent Development Environment (ATDE) samt The Environment Success Factors (ESF). Med hjälp av tematisk innehållsanalys analyserades intervjuresultaten och resultatet delades in i följande huvudteman; det mikronivå-idrottsliga området, mikronivå-icke idrottsliga området,makronivå, förutsättningar, process, organisationsutveckling och kultur, individuell utveckling och prestationer, lagprestationer, samt miljöns effektivitet. Resultatet visade tre övergripande faktorer som upplevdes vara viktiga för en bra talangutvecklingsmiljö vilka var: Att bedriva en bra ungdomsverksamhet med stödjande relationer och kompetenta tränare. Att idrottsliga mål stöds av omgivningen genom föreningen, familj samt idrottsinriktade gymnasium och universitet. Likväl att fokus riktas på långsiktig utveckling genom en tillåtande och stöttande miljö och en hög grad av autonomi. Intressant framtida forskning hade varit att studera andra längskidåkningsmiljöer samt miljöer där föreningars aktiveter inte bedrivs i samband med gymnasium eller högskola.

Title: The analysis of interest in cross-country skiing during the coronavirus crisis Objectives: The aim of this thesis is to analyze the visitors of cross-country skiing in Bedřichov, located in the Jizera Mountains, during the Covid-19 crisis. Methods: The main source of information for this thesis was acquired through a questionnaire form completed by the residents of Bedřichov Village in the Jizera mountains. The results revealed the coronavirus impact on the interest in cross country skiing. Results: Based on the questionnaire responses, an analysis of data was conducted from which an overview of individual questionnaire items was created. The overview results assisted in evaluating and verifying a total of 4 hypotheses previously established. 15 respondents participated in this process and their responses helped to verify such hypotheses. Conclusion: The results of analysis data confirmed all estabilished hypotheses. The main hypothesis was also confirmed, that is the interest in cross-country skiing had increased during coronavirus crisis due to the government measures. Keywords: cross country skiing, Covid-19, Bedřichov, public interest

Research Question: To what extent do social media reviews’ effect on the purchase   intention and actual buying behaviour of consumers differ in the beauty industry in a cross-country comparison?     Purpose:   The purpose of this study is to explore to what extent consumers in the beauty industry perceive the importance of social media reviews and if it has direct or indirect effect on either their purchase intentions or buying behaviors or if not on both. The aim is then to contribute to limited research available and to see if this connection differs with the country particularly between Sweden and Sri Lanka.   Methodology:     A descriptive qualitative research strategy was approached conducting semi-structured interviews with a total of fourteen participants both from Sweden and Sri Lanka. Open-ended questions were asked and thematic analysis was used when analyzing the collected primary data.   Conclusion: Respondents from Sweden were more engaged with social media reviews and their purchase decisions were based mostly on social media reviews. Sri Lankan respondents were interested in negative reviews while Swedish respondents were highly affected and motivated by positive reviews. Even if young consumers in Sri Lanka were motivated to purchase beauty products because of social media reviews, almost all of the Sri Lankan respondents’ purchase decisions were highly impacted by family and friends compared to effects of social media reviews.

SyfteDenna studies syfte var att undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan mellantid och sluttid på sprint prologer för herrar i världscuptävlingar, samt undersöka om förklaringsgraden för detta samband skiljer sig mellan tävlingsbanor med olika banprofil baserat på antal höjdmeter fram till mellantiden (CTC).MetoderAnalysen gjordes genom att ladda ner samtliga resultat från prologer från världscupen innehållande en mellantid efter 500-1000 m från säsongen 2017/2018 till 2019-2020. Sluttid, slutplacering och tid och placering vid mellantidsstation användes i den statistiska analysen. CTC beräknades genom att dividera klättrade höjdmeter från start till mellantid med respektive banas distans från start till mellantid. Baserat på olika banors CTC delades banorna in i 2 grupper, Level 1 (L1) banor med CTC ≤ 0,040 m/m och Level 2 (L2) CTC > 0,040 m/m. För att bestämma om datan var normalfördelad användes Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Datan analyserades sedan med hjälp av Pearsons korrelation för att beräkna korrelationskoefficienten (r) vilken sedan kvadrerades för att få förklaringsgraden (r2).ResultatKorrelationsanalysen som genomförts visar ett signifikant resultat mellan mellantid och sluttid för alla analyserade prologer (0,63 < r < 0,95; alla p < 0,001). Mellantiden förklarar 76 ± 12 % av variationen i sluttid, men ingen signifikant skillnad sågs för förklaringsgraden mellan tävlingsbanor med olika CTCSlutsatserSlutsatserna som kan dras av denna studie är att ett bra resultat vid mellantiden med stor sannolikhet kommer ge ett bra slutresultat, oberoende av banprofil. Framtida forskning behövs för att utvärdera vilken taktik åkarna väljer. / PurposeThe aim of this present study was to investigate if there is any correlation between intermediate station time and finish time in men’s cross-country ski sprint World Cup prologue. The second purpose was to identify if the correlation could depend on the morphology of the analysed courses. Methods Analyses were made on sprint prologues in World Cup, involving an intermediate time after 500-1000m from season 2017/2018 to 2019-2020. Intermediate time and finish time were used in statistical analysis. A coefficient of terrain characteristics (CTC) was calculated by dividing the high difference (HD) from the start to the position of the intermediate time station by the respectively covered distance. Based on CTC the different courses were categorized in two groups. Leve 1 (L1) courses with a CTC ≤ 0,040 m/m and Level 2 (L2) courses with a CTC > 0,040 m/m. To identify if data were normally distributed Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used. The data were analysed using Pearson’s correlation to calculate the coefficient of variation (r) which was then squared to obtain the coefficient of determination (r2).ResultsThe correlation analysis shows that there were significant relationships between intermediate time and finish time for all analysed sprint prologues (0,63 < r < 0,95; all p < 0,001). Intermediate time explains 76 ± 12 % of the variation in finish time, while no significant difference was seen for the determination coefficients between race tracks with different CTCConclusionsFast times at the intermediate time stations will most likely give good finish times, independent of terrain characteristics (CTC). Further researches are needed to evaluate which pacing profile skiers are using.

This thesis examined how cross-country skiers perceive and prepare for winter hazards. A self-completion questionnaire was administered to cross-country skiers in northern Utah. The questions on the questionnaire were designed to explore the relationships that affect how skiers perceive and prepare for winter hazards. Additionally, the situation where skiers put themselves at risk due to lack of information as opposed to skiers placing themselves at risk through the desire to confront nature's dangers was explored. Variables that were contained in these relationships were correlated and the degree of correlation was measured. Those that sought information on the day surveyed were more likely to perceive and prepare for winter hazards than those that didn't seek information. Additionally, experienced skiers were more likely to perceive and prepare for winter hazards. However, experienced skiers were more likely to be involved in other risk recreation activities and to consider risk important in their ski experience than less experienced skiers. Skiers that believed skiing to be central to their life interests were more likely to seek avalanche hazard information and be more prepared than those that didn't seek avalanche information. Results suggest more research is needed to determine the most effective techniques of disseminating hazard information to cross-country skiers. Moreover, different survey techniques, such as naturalistic inquiries, should be used to extract hazard perception and preparation information from skiers.

No description available.

Cross-country skiing has developed to become one of the most competitive winter sports, where a skier can win by fractions of seconds. Joint efforts between ski technicians and scientist have allowed the development of methodologies to prepare the ski surface, yet much of the knowledge up to date is based on the experience of the technicians.  In this sense, much attention is focused on the ski base, given that the friction at the base is an important factor that will define how fast a ski can glide. Ski base preparation is an extensive procedure, due to the several parameters that have to be taken into account. Much disagreement has risen regarding the best way to optimize the base. Thus, a complete characterization of the ski base can help to provide some clarity on the factors that affect friction.   This work presents the results of the characterization of the ski base through the preparation process by observing and measuring different aspects, using characterization techniques such as LOM, optical profilometry, contact angle, DSC and XCT. The results suggest that the mechanical machining of the surface can influence wax retention and hydrophobicity. Furthermore, it is seen that wax is present after the first waxing step, despite the constant brushing and scraping. No major changes were observed for the crystallinity. Finally, the amount of graphite on the surface was quantified. This is hoped to be helpful for ski technicians and athletes alike to improve the performance of their skis.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Physical Education, Health, and Sport Studies, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-60).

Syfte Studien syftar till att klarlägga hur stavisättningen och stakfasen påverkas vid användandet av en böjd jämfört med en rak stavdesign vid stakning i hög hastighet på rullskidor på rullband. Följande frågeställningar har undersökts:  Leder en böjd stavdesign till att stavisättningen sker längre fram?  Leder en böjd stavdesign till att stakfasens absoluta längd förändras?  Leder en böjd stavdesign till att stakfasens relativa längd förändras? Metod Tio manliga längdskidåkare (ålder 25,3 ± 5,1 år, kroppslängd 182,1 ± 8,6 cm, kroppsvikt 78 ± 6,5 kg) deltog i studien. Forskningspersonerna genomförde ett Vmax-protokoll stakning på rullskidor på rullband, med rak såväl som med böjd stavdesign. Rörelsedata samlades in och analyserades för att fastställa eventuella skillnader i stavisättning, stakfas, återförandefas och total cykeltid. Resultat En signifikant skillnad kan påvisas gällande stavisättning, där en böjd stavdesign leder till en stavisättning längre framför bindningen jämfört med en rak stavdesign. Ingen signifikant skillnad kan påvisas rörande stakfasen, återförandefasen eller total cykeltid. Slutsatser Studiens visar att stavspetsens rörelsebana flyttas vid nyttjande av en böjd stavdesign i riktning framåt. Dock påverkas inte stakfasen, återförandefasen eller total cykeltid, vilket innebär att stakfasens längd, i absoluta såväl som relativa termer, är densamma vid stakning med rak och böjd stavdesign. / Purpose statement The purpose of the study is to examine how the pole plant and pole phase are affected by using a pole of curved, compared to straight, design for double poling at high speed on roller skis at a treadmill. The following research questions have been examined:  Does a curved pole design result in a pole plant further forward?  Does a curved pole design result in a change in the absolute length of the pole phase?  Does a curved pole design result in a change in the relative length of the pole phase? Methodology Ten male cross country skiers (age 25,3 ± 5,1 years, height 182,1 ± 8,6 cm, BW 78 ± 6,5 kg) took part in the study. The test subjects performed a Vmax-test double poling on roller skis on a treadmill, with straight and curved poles. Movement data was collected and analysed to examine potential differences regarding pole plant, pole phase, recovery phase and total cycle time. Results A significant difference was found regarding the pole plant, as a curved pole design resulted in a pole plant further forward compared to a straight design. No significant difference was found related to the pole phase, recovery phase or total cycle time. Conclusion The study shows that the path of the pole tip is moved forward when using poles of a curved design. There is no change in the pole phase, the recovery phase or the total cycle time, thus the length of the pole phase, absolute as well as relative, is unaffected by pole design when double poling.