The Physical Profile of Elite Boardercross Snowboarders

Abstract

Boardercross Snowboarding is an increasingly popular sport where snowboarders race through a downhill course for the fastest time. Boardercross has recently become an Olympic Sport; however, limited data exists regarding these athletes’ physical characteristics. PURPOSE: This study gathered data to further define the physical profile of an elite boardercross snowboarder so that coaches and athletes will be more able to set training benchmarks and identify athlete potential. METHODS: NorAm level boardercross snowboarders (n=10 males; n=9 females) completed a series of tests designed to measure anthropometrics and parameters important to physical performance. Each participant’s height and weight were measured. Body fat percentage was measured using skin fold calipers. The MBASS test was used to measure dynamic balance. A vertical jump test was used to assess leg power. A T-Test was used to measure speed and agility. A one-minute 12-inch soft hurdle jump test was used to measure lower body muscular endurance. A one-minute sit-up test was used to measure core endurance. RESULTS: Body height and mass were: males 176.4±7.0 cm and 75.4±11.3 kg, females 164.1±6.1 cm and 60.8±10.2 kg. Body fat percentage for males and females was 11.6%±4.5% and 18.9%±6.4%. MBASS error scores were dominant/non-dominant leg: males 23.1±22.4/33.9±22.5, females 15.9±16.67/31.1±25.21. Male leg power (mean and peak) was 1,538.2±334.8 and 4,402.9±722.7 watts. Female leg power (mean and peak) was 778.2±216.1 and 2,634.6±350.1 watts. Male and female T-test times were 11.43±0.60 and 12.57±0.89 seconds. Leg endurance test scores were 85.3±14.0 (male) and 59.6±8.4 (female) jumps. Male and female core endurance test scores were 37.8±8.4 and 36.9±6.5 sit-ups. CONCLUSION: In the future, additional data sets from other boardercross athletes should be added to this existing set and attempt to quantify the relationship between physical performance measures (as collected in this study) and actual NorAm competition rankings.