MEASUREMENT OF SKIER-GENERATED FORCES DURING ROLLER-SKI SKATING

This paper describes a system that was developed to measure ski pole a nd roller-ski reaction forces in three dimensions during roller-ski sk ating. Uni-axial force transducers mounted in the right and left ski p oles measure axial loading of the poles, Six transducers in one roller -ski measure biaxial loads beneath the foot. A remote computer stores the amplified transducer signals transmitted from the skier through 10 0 m cables. Three-dimensional video-graphy determines the orientations of the poles and roller-ski in order to resolve the resultant poling and skating forces into three components. Calibration data suggest tha t the resolution of the force measurement system is +/- 3 to 9% of the actual poling and skating forces, respectively. Sample data are prese nted from a V1 skating trial during roller-skiing. These data provide the first glimpse at the major functions of the upper and lower body d uring roller-ski skating and show how the tool could be used to examin e the size and effectiveness of skier-generated forces.