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

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.

Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka förekomsten av, samt faktorer som bidrar till work-family conflict (WFC) och burnout bland ideella och icke-ideella U16-tränare inom alpin skidåkning. För att besvara syftet ställdes frågeställningarna: “hur ser förekomsten av burnout och WFC ut hos ideella respektive heltidsanställda alpina U16-tränare?”, “finns det något samband mellan WFC och burnout för alpina U16-tränare?” och “finns det något samband mellan arbetade timmar, burnout och WFC hos alpina U16-tränare?”. Metod Studien var kvantitativ och bestod av en enkät, som besvarades av 11 svenska alpina U16-tränare, varav tio ideella med ett heltidsarbete vid sidan av, och en heltidsanställd tränare. Enkäten syftade till att ta reda på hur många timmar de arbetat de senaste sju dagarna, samt vilken typ av arbetsform; ideell eller heltid, de hade. Den syftar även till att mäta respektive tränares grad av burnout och WFC. För att ta reda på om det fanns något samband mellan WFC och burnout så analyserades data gällande WFC och burnout genom Spearmans korrelation för icke parametriska data. Samtliga beräkningar gjordes i Excel Version 2021.  Resultat Medelvärdet för burnout hos de ideella tränarna var 3,07 och 1,32 för den heltidsanställda tränaren. Medelvärdet för WFC hos de ideella tränarna var 15,64 och heltidsanställda tränarens värde var 7. Sambandet (R-värdet) mellan WFC och burnout för samtliga tränare var 0,31, men P-värdet var 0,35, vilket innebar avsaknad av signifikans och låg power. För de ideella tränarna så fanns två tendenser vid fler arbetade timmar; en ökning av burnoutvärden och en sänkning av WFC-värden. Slutsats För att få signifikanta resultat hade ett högre deltagarantal behövts men det finns ändå tendenser till ett samband mellan WFC och burnout för svenska alpina U16-tränare, även om detta samband var svagare än i tidigare studier. Det fanns även tendenser kring att ideella tränare upplever både en högre grad av burnout och en högre grad av WFC än heltidsanställda alpina U16-tränare, där dels typen arbetsform, och dels antalet arbetade timmar verkar vara två nyckelfaktorer. / <p>Ämneslärarprogrammet, Specialidrott</p>

Simulation is one approach to analyze and model the real world complex problems. The aim of this thesis is to build the simulation model of an Ice Skiing Queuing Problem. Goal of the queuing analysis is to provide satisfactory services to the customers so that they serve according to the appropriate time. This thesis mainly deals with the queuing behaviour, as we have implemented some rules and applied the Poisson distribution concept. This shows that how the moves occur by applying defined rules to get the desired results. In this thesis, we have generated the data randomly which replicate customers in queue. However to solve that problem we have designed the method with which we are met with the goal successfully.

Flow Motion Technology AB has previously developed a technology to improve hockey skates and inlines. The technology called Flow Motion Technology (FMT) is utilizing the smooth and effective rolling motion of a human footstep, and has proven to be very successful after implementation in both hockey skates and inlines. Flow Motion Technology AB has interest in investigating whether the technology can be implemented in other sports applications, which this thesis project concerns. The project examines the implementation of FMT in the alpine skiing segment. The purpose is to provide Flow Motion Technology AB with a foundation for evaluating the potential of investing further in the development of FMT applied in alpine skiing. FMT is implemented in a feature positioned between ski and binding of most alpine race skis, commonly called a race plate. The work is divided into two parts; The first part covers the development and manufacturing of a prototype along with detailed description of the procedures and methods used. The second part is about the tests of the prototype’s vibration-damping properties carried out in laboratory environment along with analysis of the results. Initial field tests are also carried out followed by fundamental analysis. An existing plate intended for competition use is tested in parallel with the prototype and is used as a reference when analyzing the results. The results show that the ski equipped with the FMT plate dampened vibrations on an average of 27 % faster than the reference plate. Measurements was compiled for three damping intervals specified for the tests performed in laboratory. A statistically significant difference in all three cases was obtained. The measured maximum amplitude of the acceleration in the vibrations was also significantly lower for the ski implemented with the FMT plate compared to the reference plate. The eigen frequencies of the ski measured in laboratory were not significantly affected if the ski was fitted with the FMT plate or the reference plate. The eigen frequencies measured in field generally corresponded to the measured in laboratory, with the difference that they were offset on an average of 7 Hz higher in field. / Flow Motion Technology AB har tidigare utvecklat en teknologi för att förbättra hockeyskridskor och inlines. Teknologin kallad Flow Motion Technology (FMT) utnyttjar den naturliga och effektiva rullande rörelse i en människas fotsteg, och har efter implementation i hockeyskridskor och inlines visat sig vara framgångsrik. Flow Motion Technology AB vill undersöka om denna teknologi kan implementeras i andra idrottssammanhang för att utvärdera möjligheter att bredda företagets affärsområde. Detta examensarbete är en del av denna undersökning, och i denna rapport beskrivs implementationen av FMT i segmentet alpinskidåkning. Syftet med projektet är att förse Flow Motion Technology AB med underlag för att utvärdera lönsamheten i att investera mer i utvecklingen av FMT riktad mot alpinskidåkning. FMT implementeras i projektet i en raceplatta, en komponent monterad mellan skida och bindning. Arbetet är uppdelat i två delar; utveckling och tillverkning av en funktionsprototyp med detaljerad beskrivning av tillvägagångssätt och metoder, samt tester av prototypens vibrationsdämpande prestanda i labbmiljö med tillhörande analys av resultat. Initiala tester utförs även i fält med enklare analys av resultat. En befintlig bindningsplatta avsedd för tävling testas parallellt med den utvecklade plattan och används som referens vid analys av resultaten. Resultaten visar att plattan implementerad med FMT dämpade en skidas vibrationer i genomsnitt 27 % snabbare än vad referensplattan gjorde vid de tre dämpningsintervall som specificerats för testen i labbmiljö. En statistiskt signifikant skillnad i alla tre fall. Den uppmätta maxamplituden för accelerationen i vibrationerna var även statistiskt signifikant lägre för skidan implementerad med FMT jämfört med referensplattan. Egenfrekvenserna uppmätta i labb påverkades inte nämnvärt om skidan var monterad med FMT-plattan eller referensplattan. De egenfrekvenser som uppmättes i fält motsvarade generellt de som uppmättes i labb med skillnaden att de var förskjutna till att i genomsnitt vara 7 Hz högre.

Introduction: Alpine skiing has changed since the 1990s and it is unclear what sport specific strength is within modern alpine elite skiing. Purpose: The aim of this study was to create a strength profile and to investigate what sport specific strength is within alpine elite skiers. Method: A total number of 24 participant took part in this cross-sectional study, where eleven alpine elite skiers were compared with thirteen well-trained strength athletes with different sports background. The participants were tested in squat jump (SJ), counter movement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ) as well as isometric, isokinetic concentric and isokinetic eccentric strength with different dynamic velocities. In addition to these tests, reaction strength index (RSI) and eccentric utilization ratio (EUR) were calculated. Correlation analyses were performed to investigate if there were any relationships between the jump test variables and the isometric and eccentric strength tests. Results: The SKI group jumped higher in relation to their bodyweight (BW) in SJ (P&gt;0,01), CMJ (P&gt;0,05) and DJ (P&gt;0,01). The SKI group also showed significantly higher RSI values (P&gt;0,05). For the strength tests, the SKI group performed significantly better in all the eccentric velocities (P&gt;0,05), the isometric test (P&gt;0,01) and in the slowest concentric velocity (P&gt;0,01). The SKI group showed significantly higher strength values (P&gt;0,05) in relative isometric strength with knee angles between 20°-60°, where the largest significant difference appeared at 25° (P&gt;0,001). No significant differences were found in the absolute values in either the jump or the strength tests. Only moderate (r=0,30-0,49) significant (P&gt;0,05) correlations were found between the fastest eccentric tests and the SJ and DJ within all athletes. No significant correlations were found within the SKI group alone. Conclusion: This study presented evidence that sport specific strength for alpine elite skiers may primarily consist of isometric strength, training in slow concentric velocities and general eccentric training. The results indicate that the sport specific strength for alpine elite skiers does not include concentric training in moderate and fast concentric movements.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between family downhill skiing patterns and family functioning. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES II), was used to measure family functioning. Questions created by the researcher were used to measure the average number of family ski experiences per year (frequency) and how many years the family has skied together (duration). Satisfaction with family ski experiences was measured using the Satisfaction with Family Skiing Scale. The sample consisted of 110 family units from throughout the United States. The findings from this study found that frequency and duration of family ski experiences were not significant predictors of family functioning. The data did determine that satisfaction with family ski experiences was a significant predictor of family functioning from the youth, parent, and family perspectives.

A method of estimating subject specific muscle parameters of musculoskeletal models of elite athletes (skiers) was sought. Subject specific models are necessary due to large differences in general anatomy and physical performance of elite athletes relative the general population. Sought muscle parameters concern the force generating capabilities of muscles. The estimation was limited to only include the quadriceps-femoris and hamstring muscle groups due to these muscle having the highest influence on the performance of a skier. A modified interpretation of the method proposed by Heinen et al. [19] was implemented. The method includes experimental strength tests of knee extension and flexion muscles of a test subject, a musculoskeletal model of the experiments coupled with a mathematical optimisation minimisation formulation. The aim of the optimisation was to match the strength of a model to the experimentally obtained strength curve by minimising  error between the model and experimental results. The optimisation minimises the error between the model and the experimental data by varying the operating range and strength of the involved muscles. The musculo-tendon parameters are estimated through transformation equations, explicitly related to the design variables. Three healty and active males were involved in this study. An overall increase of the accuracy of the optimised model relative an unscaled reference model was observed, with the reduction of the objective function in a range of 80.2-92\% and a mean absolute error varying between 6.8 to 16.5 Nm. In the case of quadriceps-femoris muscles, the optimised model struggles with incorrect prediction of the peak torque and peak torque angle due to limitations of the muscle model and the distribution of the moment arm. The model predicts both peak torque and peak torque angle with high accuracy in the case of hamstring muscles. In addition, the model struggles with low precision for both knee extension and flexion for all of the involved test subjects. Although great improvement in the accuracy was observed, the model prediction was deemed to have low clinical significance, due too low accuracy and precision. The clinical significance could be improved, for example by a more detailed musculoskeletal model or by modifying the behaviour of the muscle model. Future work should focus on addressing the current issues presented in this study and a further development, as the method still is relatively new and untested. Parallelly, the researches should try to test the method in clinical studies, in order to evaluate the influence on the results by the implementation of this method of parameter estimation.

Projektet omfattar produktutveckling av stavspets ämnad för användning på rullband. Genom utveckling av design och val av material förbättras stavens pendelrörelse. Intervjustudie med kompletterande litteraturundersökning används för att ta fram marknadens behov på en högpresterande stavspets. Underlaget används för att generera innovativa lösningar för att skapa möjliga koncept som analyseras och utvärderas med olika verktyg och digitala analyser. Rapporten beskriver framtagning av prototyper följt av fysiska tester i avancerade maskiner för att kontrollera konstruktionernas hållfasthet. Som avslutning på rapporten delges läsaren med slutliga resultat från tester på rullband samt hur väl projektet lyckats med att leverera en fungerande prototyp. / The project involves product development of a ski pole tip intended for use on a treadmill by improving the design and material selection to enhance the pole's pendulum motion. A conducted interview study with supplementary literature research is used to identify the market's needs for a high-performance ski pole tip. This information is used to generate innovative solutions to create potential concepts. The concepts are analyzed and evaluated using various tools and digital analyses. The report describes the development of prototypes, followed by physical testing to verify the strength of the designs leading to further testing on a treadmill. As a conclusion to the report, the reader is presented with the final results from treadmill tests and how well the project has succeeded in delivering a functional prototype. / <p>Betygsdatum 2023-06-28</p>