Contest Analysis in Snowboard

The goals of this project were to use data from an athlete boot mounted IMU sensor worn during competition and training to; 1. Quantify trick metrics to assist in better understanding judging scores and 2. Quantify training/competition load to inform optimal tapering strategies. An IMU data collection and analysis workflow was successfully developed to support camp/competition data collection and achieve the two main aims.

First, in order to quantify trick metrics, an IMU rotation data-based algorithm was developed that has a highly accurate (~90%) association to trick difficulty. This algorithm allowed to investigate the relationship between trick difficulty and the competition performance score (ie judging score). The results showed that the number of rotations is one of the key metrics affecting judging score and this relationship differs between the sexes and the trick takeoff side. These insights provided coaches and athletes a systematic approach in targeting trick interventions to maximize performance.

Secondly, to support camp/competition-based load management a novel impact metric was developed, and it was observed that landing impact is a key metric to quantify athlete training load monitoring allowing for:
-           Informed off-snow training based on on-snow load
-           Return to snow protocols
-           Proactively revising training plans to reflect accumulate load
-           Understand individual loading

Support for the integration of technology and analytics into the daily training environment would not only support the systematic approach in athlete monitoring but could reveal judging trends and patterns allowing to be strategic with training intervention and competition run planning to maximize performance.

The development of algorithms to understand the relationship between key metrics to competition performance allowed the sport to be systematic with their training interventions and strategize their competition run. This approach can be transferred to other freestyle judged sports (summer and winter). The competition relevant metrics can potentially be incorporated as part gold medal profile and team selection to better assess athletes.

Another critical outcome from this project is training load quantification through implementation of landing impact in order to manage session load to prevent overreaching and potential injury. This loading metric can also provide the ability to have a systematic approach in return to snow protocols. These innovations will revolutionize the DTE in snow/freestyle sport.

Canada Snowboard (CS) strongly believe and support this applied research leading to innovative solutions that enhance performance. There is also a wide interdisciplinary component to this project in applying the knowledge/process gained to other disciplines (such as moguls, snowboard/ski cross, ski slopestyle/big air, para snowboard…) and other freestyle sports (such as gymnastic, diving, surfing, skateboard…).

Over the past few years, CS has seen an increased engagement in performance analysis with Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (CSI-P) to assist in tactical, technical, and physical decisions to optimizing athlete training, team selection and enhancing competition success. Continuing the CS/CSI-P partnership will ensure the highest quality of work in these areas:

-           Performing proper analysis and analytics to answer NSO-led performance questions
-           Streamline workflow to improve efficiency in providing interpreted results to the coaches to make informed decisions
-           Technology innovations to capture data to allow more insights into the sport and allow coaches to ask questions that were not possible or could never have been imagined before.