The risk of injury in world cup ski racing is very serious. However, there is a clear lack of knowledge and scientific research focusing on the interaction between the equipment, course setting and injuries. A better biomechanical understanding of these aspects and their influences on the movement of the athlete may help to adapt equipment and course setting regulations. Recently, the International Federation of Ski (FIS) decided to evaluate the potential dangers of equipment and course setting to survey and reduce the injuries thanks to an important research project involving different expert groups.
In the framework this project and our collaboration with the FIS and involved expert groups, we devised a wearable measurement system composed of inertial sensors and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) providing the 3D segments and center of mass kinematics to assess the equipment and course setting in alpine skiing racing. More specifically, the outcomes of the project were:
· A simple measurement device integrated in the athlete’s apparel to record the complex movement of the skier in real racing conditions without limitations of capture volume and data post-processing.
· Innovative methods based on advanced signal-processing and biomechanics tools to determine the segments and center of mass kinematics of the skiers.
· A technical validation of methods for segment and center of mass kinematics which has never been done to date showing that the obtained kinematics was technically valid.
· The assessment of the skier equipment (i.e., ski prototypes) and different course settings in relation to the injury risks using the skier kinematics resulting in recommendations delivered to FIS which leaded to new regulations for equipment.
· An automatic analysis software providing the segments and center of mass kinematics that is currently further used by the FIS expert partners.
This FIS research project was a great opportunity for Switzerland to participate in an international collaboration of first importance. The outcomes of this research provided valuable guidelines for the injury prevention of competitors. They also suggested new investigations relative to safety (e.g., low back chronic pain). They may also have crucial implication for the safety of recreational skiers that Switzerland counted by millions. The project reinforced the collaboration between Swiss research teams and some of the best experts in alpine skiing biomechanics, skiing companies and World Cup athletes. It is also worth noting that the proposed system could be further used for performance evaluation.
