Alpine Skiing Research Articles

Use of pharmaceuticals amongst athletes tested by Anti-Doping Norway in a five-year period.

The aim of the study was to map the use of pharmaceuticals by Norwegian athletes registered on doping control forms (DCFs) in a five-year period to examine general and some class specific use of pharmaceuticals across sports and athlete levels. Anonymous data from DCFs collected in 2015-2019 were manually entered into a database using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) system for classification of the pharmaceuticals. Variables entered were year of control, gender, age group, athlete level, sport, test type, nationality, and pharmaceuticals (and dietary supplements) used. Pain killers in the ATC groups M01 A (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs) and N02 B (other analgesics), and anti-asthmatics in ATC groups R03 A and R03 B were the most frequently used pharmaceuticals. National level athletes reported more use of pharmaceuticals (1.4 ± 1.7 pharmaceuticals per form) than recreational level athletes (0.9 ± 1.2). The highest proportion of DCFs containing information about at least one pharmaceutical were found in speed skating (79.1%), alpine skiing (74.0%), rowing (72.4%) and cross-country skiing (71.7%). Painkillers were most frequently used in muscular endurance sports (30.4% and 21.2 % for M01A and N02 B, respectively) and ball and team sports (17.9% and 17.0%). Use of hypnotics was reported from ice-hockey players and alpine skiers in around 8% of the cases. Use of anti-asthmatics was most often reported amongst athletes specially exposed to cold, chemicals and heavy endurance training. Athletes in specialized sports requiring high levels of strength and/or endurance reported a higher use of pharmaceuticals out-of-competition compared to in-competition, while there was no such difference in complex sports, such as team, gymnastic, aiming and combat sports.

Effects of Learning Alpine Skiing Techniques on Postural Stability

Alpine skiing is a sport and recreational physical activity which requires fine postural control to maintain balance in challenging conditions. Theoretically, balance dominates in alpine skiing, but coordinated action of the whole body of the skiers is equally important. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of experimental short-term program of intensive training of alpine skiing techniques to postural stability (on Biodex Balance System) of students. The sample is divided into an experimental (31 students, age 21.4±1.0 and body height 180.7±6.3 cm) and control group (34 students, age 20.6±0.8 and body height 180.3±6.8 cm). The results of ANCOVA within variables for the evaluation of postural stability show statistically significant effects of the applying experimental program in all applied variables at the level of significance p=.000. From the mean value results (M) it is obvious that the experimental group achieved better results compared to the identical tests applied to the control group. The results of this research show that learning to ski can improve the ability to maintain balance, especially if it is conducted under the expert supervision of a ski instructor, which can have the effect of reducing the risk of injury.

Return to Alpine Sport and Physical Activity After First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot; Sports Introduction/Purpose: First metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthrodesis is an effective procedure to alleviate pain and correct deformity. The unique location of our academic center allows us to study an extremely active patient population with high rates of participation in impact sports and particularly alpine specific sports, including Nordic and alpine skiing, snowboarding, hiking, trail running and biking. There is limited literature regarding these specific activities with regards to a 1st MTP arthrodesis. The goal of the study is to better define the ability to return to physical activity, with a focus on alpine and mountain sports. This will help physicians counsel patients appropriately when discussing surgical options. Methods: Patients over 18 years old who underwent MTP arthrodesis with minimum 1 year follow up were identified using CPT code 27850. Patients undergoing concomitant forefoot and hindfoot procedures were excluded. Demographic data and complications were recorded by retrospective chart review. A custom sports questionnaire, PROMIS Physical Function (PF), PROMIS Pain Interference (PI), and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) scores were administered to patients. Postoperative radiographs were analyzed for time to union and fusion position. Results: 96 patients were eligible for analysis. Preliminarily, 34 have completed the follow-up survey. Most common activities were walking, hiking, alpine skiing, biking and running. Compared to preoperatively, patients rated 70.5% of activities as less difficult, 20.5% as the same, and 9.0% as more difficult. 74% of patients returned to their activities by 6 months and 62% of patients reached their maximum level of activity by 9 months postoperatively. Patients who participated in skiing/snowboarding were all able to ski the same level of terrain compared to before surgery, but nearly half (46%) of patients required boot modifications. 43% of patients were able to increase incline when hiking/trail running, and 48% of patients were able to increase their running/walking mileage. Average PROMIS PF was 51.9 (±6.20). Conclusion: Patients are able to participate in a variety of high impact and alpine related sports after 1st MTP arthrodesis. The majority of patients are able to function at similar or increased levels when returning to hiking, walking, skiing and snowboarding. Up to 25% of patients may not reach maximum level of activity until 1 year postoperatively. Additional investigation is required to identify potential risk factors for patients that may experience difficulty returning to activity. Continued survey participation is underway to strengthen these results. Patient counseling on activity participation following hallux MTP arthrodesis is important to optimize outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Monitoring Changes in Lower-Limb Strength and Power in Elite Athletes With the Countermovement-Jump and Keiser Leg-Press Tests.

To determine the utility of countermovement-jump and Keiser leg-press tests for tracking changes in elite athletes of different sports. Elite athletes of the Norwegian Olympic Federation (126 individuals from 18 sports) performed countermovement-jump and Keiser tests on 2 to 11 occasions between 2014 and 2021. Separate analyses were performed for male and female alpine skiing, male and female handball, male ice hockey, and males and females of other sports. Means and standard deviations of consecutive change scores were combined with short-term error of measurement (3.7%-7.0%) and smallest important changes (2.0%-3.6%, defined by standardization) to determine the proportions of athletes who experienced decisive changes in 2 senses: first, the athlete did not get substantially worse or better (>90% chance of either), and second, the athlete did get substantially worse or better (>90% chance of either). Averaged over sports, Keiser peak power and relative peak power had the highest proportions of decisive changes in the first (60% and 55%) and second senses (25% and 28%). The velocity intercept of the force-velocity relationship had the lowest proportions in the first and second senses (29% and 11%), while jump height, Keiser mean power, relative mean power, the force intercept, and the slope of the force-velocity relationship had similar proportions (40%-53% and 15%-21%). With the possible exception of the Keiser test velocity intercept, the proportions of observed decisive changes in elite athletes using Keiser measures and countermovement-jump height between tests appear adequate for the measures to be useful for routine monitoring.

Efficacy of chocolate milk in facilitating post-workout regeneration of young male skiers

The use of nutritional strategies has become more widespread in recent years. This study investigates the effect of chocolate milk (CM) consumption on the recovery rate of elite male adolescent alpine skiers after intense training. Twelve male elite alpine skiers aged 13-16 years were randomly divided into two groups: chocolate milk (CM; n = 6) and placebo (PLA; n = 6). After exercise, the CM group was given 400 ml (200+200) of chocolate milk, and the PLA group took water (placebo) in the same regimen. Venous blood samples were taken before and 12 hours after drinking the fluids to determine the activity of selected enzymes, insulin, testosterone, glucose, and some minerals. It was observed that in the CM group, serum AST (Pre: 110.33±126.62 U/L vs. Post: 83.17±100.42 U/L) and CK (Pre: 2393.12±2542.22 U/L vs. Post: 1556.33±1401.45 U/L) activity, as well as testosterone (Pre: 21.12±3.59 ng/mL vs. Post: 15.19±4.96 ng/mL; p=0.028) and iron (Pre: 163.00±14.76 µg/dL vs. Post: 109.00±23.91 µg/dL; p=0.028), decreased significantly, but potassium (Pre: 4.38±0.16 mmol/L vs. Post: 4.64±0.09 mmol/L) and magnesium (Pre: 1.82±0.09 mg/dL vs. Post: 2.07±0.04 mg/dL) levels increased after supplementation compared to baseline levels (p

Alpine Skier Field Training Monitoring Search for the Optimal Number of Days

Alpine Skier Field Training Monitoring Search for the Optimal Number of Days

Analytical Assessment of the Tourist Market Infrastructure (The Case of Republic of North Ossetia-Alania)

The paper analyzes the problems of developing the infrastructure of the tourist market of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania to increase the tourist flow to the region. The aim of the study was to find weaknesses and potential for the development of the region as a tourist destination. Based on the analysis, a number of conclusions were formulated. The COVID-19 epidemic, as well as the sanctions imposed in 2022, created favorable conditions for the development of domestic tourism, including in the region. The strong side for attracting tourists is the development of various tourist routes and excursions, the preparation of highly qualified guides, the creation of art objects. However, the weak point is the level of creation and operation of infrastructure facilities. In terms of the development of accommodation facilities in the region, a number of works have been done on the construction and modernization of hotels, recreation centers and guest houses, but no more than 10-15% of them meet the modern requirements of the tourism business. Also, the specific infrastructure of certain types of tourism remains poorly developed: ski slopes, lifts, diving equipment, etc. In terms of marketing and promotion of the tourist product, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania has been included in the Pearls of the Caucasus railway route since 2023, however, this cruise trip can reach no more than 3,000 people per season. A less significant but important factor was the development of mobile applications that make it easier for tourists to navigate, as well as book and pay for accommodation. Nevertheless, in order to diversify tourist services, it would be necessary to organize various events that demonstrate local national features of culture and life. However, all of the above without investing in the development of hotel and transport infrastructure will not allow the tourist destination of North Ossetia-Alania to become competitive.

Intuitive, Myoelectric Control of Adaptive Sports Equipment for Individuals with Tetraplegia.

This research aims to develop safe, robust, and easy-to-use adaptive technology for individuals with tetraplegia. After a debilitating spinal cord injury, clinical care focuses on improving quality of life. Participation in adaptive sports has been shown to improve several aspects of participants' well-being. The TetraSki is a power-assisted ski chair that allows individuals with tetraplegia to participate in downhill skiing by sipping and puffing air on an integrated straw to turn their skis. Here, we introduce a new intuitive and dexterous control strategy for the TetraSki using surface electromyography (sEMG) from the neck and shoulder muscles. As an initial assessment, six healthy participants completed a virtual ski racecourse using sEMG and Sip-and-Puff control. Participants also completed a detection response task of cognitive load and the NASA-TLX survey of subjective workload. No significant differences were observed between the performance of sEMG control and the performance of Sip-and-Puff control. However, sEMG control required significantly less cognitive load and subjective workload than Sip-and-Puff control. These results indicate that sEMG can effectively control the equipment and is significantly more intuitive than traditional Sip-and-Puff control. This suggests that sEMG is a promising control method for further validation with individuals with tetraplegia. Ultimately, long-term use of sEMG control may promote neuroplasticity and drive rehabilitation.

Impact of Environmental Factors on the ACL Injury Risk in Recreational Alpine Skiing.

In recreational alpine skiing, an ACL injury represents the most common injury. Skiing is a complex activity where the skier interacts with the environment, such as weather, snow conditions, temperature, etc. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of environmental factors on ACL injury risk in recreational alpine skiers. Among a cohort of 392 ACL-injured skiers and 392 uninjured controls matched for sex and skiing skill, environmental factors were collected by questionnaire. Factors included weather conditions, snow conditions, perceived temperature, and slope difficulty at the time-point of the accident (ACL-injured skiers) or of questioning during the ski day (uninjured controls).Multiple logistic regression revealed that in addition to age, five environmental factors were significantly predictive of an ACL injury: fresh snow (OR 10.5), grippy snow (OR 7.8), icy slope condition (OR 12.4), very cold/cold perceived temperature (OR 1.6), and skiing on easy slopes (OR 6.9). In conclusion, besides age, environmental factors such as fresh and grippy snow, icy slope conditions, low temperatures, and flat slopes are associated with an increased ACL injury risk in recreational alpine skiing. Those factors are at least partly modifiable and should be taken into consideration for preventive strategies.

P08.09.B EFFECTS OF A ONE-WEEK SKIING INTERVENTION ON LOWER LIMB MUSCLE STRENGTH IN BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS

Abstract BACKGROUND Due to fatigue or feelings of insecurity, many brain tumor patients are not sufficiently active. Among other things, this puts patients at higher risk for sarcopenia predicting overall survival. Exercise interventions of various kinds could effectively counteract this problem. Here, we aim to present the impact of a one-week skiing intervention on leg muscle strength in brain tumor patients and their caregivers as well as feasibility and safety of the intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ten brain tumor patients and their families participated in this one-week skiing intervention in a self-catering lodge at 1400m altitude. Daily 4-hour ski sessions (including approx. 1 hour rest) with professional ski instructors were performed in small groups (≤5 participants) divided by proficiency level. Participants could choose between downhill and cross-country skiing. Adverse events were noted daily. Muscle strength was determined 3-10 days pre- and postintervention on 5 different gym machines (knee extension, knee flexion, adductors, abductors, leg press) using Brzycki's equation. RESULTS 20 adults (10 patients, 10 caregivers) and 7 children participated in the ski-based intervention. All patients were surgically treated at least once and received chemo- and/or radiotherapy (ongoing chemotherapy in 6 patients). No severe adverse events were recorded throughout the week. 15 adults (9 patients, 56% female; 6 caregivers, 67% female) aged 21-69 years (mean 50 years) completed the muscle strength tests. Of those, most patients suffered from grade 4 brain tumors (67%), followed by grade 2 (22%) and grade 1 (11 %) tumors. Mean muscle strength increased in all muscle groups tested (knee extension +13.5%, p=.024, CI 95%: -0.5 - 29.1; knee flexion +7.1%, p=.048 CI 95%: -1.0 - 14.0; adductors +6.6%, p=.039, CI 95%: 1.3 - 13.4; abductors 20.0%, p=.004, CI 95%: 6.9 - 35.7; leg press +19.5%, p=.050, CI 95%: -5.6 - 44.6). Tumor grade, gender, type of ski intervention, and age did not affect the RESULTS . CONCLUSION During one week of intensive ski training, positive effects on leg muscle strength could be shown in both brain tumor patients and their families regardless of age, gender, downhill/cross-country ski, or WHO grading. Furthermore, this study demonstrates feasibility and safety of ski-based exercises in this patient population. Interventions such as these could help patients overcome (gait) insecurities and motivate them to become more physically active in their daily lives. In the longer term, this may lead to better management of everyday life and improved quality of life.

Manual vs Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest on a Ski Slope: A Pilot Study.

The quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is critical in increasing the probability of survival with a good neurologic outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In an austere environment with a potentially salvageable patient, bystanders or first responders may need to provide chest compressions for a prolonged duration or during physically challenging transportation scenarios. Consequently, they may be at risk of fatigue or injury, and chest compression quality may deteriorate. The study sought to assess whether or not access to and utilization of a mechanical compression device (Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System) was feasible and not inferior to manual compressions while extricating and transporting a patient from a ski slope. Variable 3-person ski patrol teams responded to a simulated patient with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a nonshockable rhythm. Using a mannequin and CPR quality monitor, performance during manual CPR was compared with that of a mechanical compression device. This is a prospective, crossover analysis of CPR quality during extrication from a ski slope. Across 8 total runs, chest compression fraction, which is the proportion of time without spontaneous circulation during which compressions occurred, and high-quality CPR, as measured by appropriate rate and depth, were compared between the 2 groups. Extrication times between the 2 groups were also measured. There was no difference in compression fraction between the manual (91.4%; 95% CI [86.8-96.1]) and mechanical arms (92.8%; 95% CI [88.8-96.8]) (P=0.67). There was an increase in the time performing high-quality CPR in the mechanical group (58.5%; 95% CI [45.8-71.2]) vs that in the manual group (25.6%; 95% CI [13.5-37.8]) (P<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the extrication times between the 2 groups, 7.6 ± 0.5 min in the manual group vs 8.6 ± 0.4 min in the mechanical group (P=0.014). Mechanical CPR devices are noninferior for use in ski areas during initial resuscitation and transportation. Compared with manual CPR, mechanical CPR would likely improve the fraction of time performing high-quality CPR.

Lower Leg Pain In A Downhill Skier

Lower Leg Pain In A Downhill Skier

Surgical Treatment of an Unusual Ski Injury: Combined Tibial Fracture With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Avulsion and Segond Lesion

Background: Alpine skiing is considered to be a high-risk sport due to frequent knee injuries and lower limb fractures. The most common lower limb fracture is tibial shaft fracture, while the most common ligament injuries include anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or medial collateral ligament tears. An injury rarely described in the literature is the association of a bony leg fracture with an ACL injury and Segond fracture. Indications: While the tibial fracture can be managed with intermedullary nailing and proximal ACL tears can be managed with primary repair, the combination of treatments including fixation of the Segond fracture is uncommon. Technique Description: We report combination treatment with nailing for the tibial fracture, primary repair for the ACL avulsion, and primary fixation of Segond fracture. Results: Simultaneous reduction and fixation of the fracture and stabilization of the knee with ACL and anterolateral ligament repair in a single stage resulted in an excellent outcome with complete healing of tibial fracture, ACL repair, and Segond fixation at final follow-up. Discussion/Conclusion: Even if combined leg fracture associated with ipsilateral ACL tear and Segond fracture is a very rare injury, the described technique based on 1-stage fixation of the 3 injuries is a viable option. This surgical technique can be considered a reparative treatment, with the goal of preserving the joint. Patient Consent Disclosure Statement: The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.

Results of glycaemic control on exertion in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus in FOX children's recreational camp settings

ANO “Children’s Camp FOX CAMP (Lager’ Lisonok)” has been operating in Russia since 2019. Changes of observations in the Moscow region, Sochi, Kaliningrad region, Sochi, Gelendzhik, Chelyabinsk region, Altai. In the period from 2019 to 2022, 796 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) visited the shifts and active tours of the ANO “Children’s Camp FOKS CAMP (Lager’ Lisonok)”. The priority of children’s recreation is a focus on increased activity: marathons at various distances, football matches, basketball, alpine skiing and long hikes in the mountains, rafting. It is known that activity in patients with type 1 diabetes increases sharply by the level of blood increase, by a decrease in this indicator. In order, to prevent the development of hypoglycemia during heavy exercise, it is very important to quickly determine blood glucose using a glucometer and take the necessary measures to stop it. Thus, the presence of sufficient shifts is necessary to quickly and accurately carry out self-monitoring, sometimes in various and difficult conditions (on mountain trails, on a suspension bridge, when rafting on a mountain river, on the beach). This article presents the development of events on elevated blood levels in children and adolescents with DM1 in the conditions of the marathon, running at various distances in the conditions of the summer shift in the Moscow region of the children’s health camp ANO “Children’s Camp FOX CAMP (Lager’ Lisonok)”.

ASO-DKELM: Alpine skiing optimization based deep kernel extreme learning machine for elderly stroke detection from EEG signal

Stroke is considered the third leading cause of mortality followed by cancer and heart disease worldwide. Stroke detection in advance is the only procedure to avoid health risks while it necessitates continuous monitoring and observation of subjects. Many research works already exist in the medical field to detect diseases in advance using machine learning techniques. However, their detection results are limited by several biasing factors such as more training time and imprecise detection. So a novel stroke detection system using the Deep Kernel Extreme Learning Machine based Alpine Skiing (DKELM-AS) approach is proposed to predict the probability of subjects being affected by stroke disease. The electroencephalogram (EEG) signals of normal and stroke patients are collected and utilized to investigate the proposed approach. The raw data are preprocessed and the features are extracted based on frequency ranges using the Fast Hartley Transform (FHT) technique. Finally, the proposed DKELM-AS approach classifies them as stroke-affected EEG or normal EEG based on the precursor symptoms obtained from EEG signals. The experimental results reveal that the proposed DKELM-AS approach achieves an overall accuracy rate of about 95.2% in stroke detection based on the precursor symptoms of EEG signals.

Constituent Year Effects and Performance in Alpine Skiing Junior World Championships.

This study examines constituent year effect (CYE) and race performance among junior alpine skiers in the World Championships. In various junior age cohorts competing together, variation in skiing performance can be expected not only due to practice load and experience but also due to inter-individual differences in physical and psychological maturation. Within a one-year cohort, this effect has been referred to as the birth month effect or the relative age effect (RAE). In cohorts with multiple age bands, the effect is termed the constituent year effect (CYE). The CYE works in principle as the RAE but can function as a magnifying lens of the development within a larger multi-year cohort. The results of the current study indicate that CYEs are present among junior alpine skier performance in the junior World Championships. The magnitude of the constituent year effect is greater in speed events (i.e., downhill and super-G) than in technical events (i.e., slalom and giant slalom), and greater among male skiers compared to female skiers. The findings are discussed in relation to previous research on relative age effects more generally and within the sport context specifically.

Sustainable consumption of services: willingness-to-pay for sustainable alpine skiing experience

ABSTRACT In this study, we examine sustainable consumption from a ski area perspective by using the exploratory sequential mixed-method approach. We apply a cross-national approach to investigate how customers’ preferences for sustainable service alternatives translate into willingness-to-pay, comparing results from Norway and Switzerland. The results show that alpine skiers in general report being willing to pay more for a day pass if the ski area is either environmentally-certified, carbon-neutral, or uses only natural snow. The positive effects are reported even stronger among environmentally-friendly skiers and skiers from Switzerland. We discuss the implications our results have for ski area managers wanting to incorporate sustainability in the overall pricing strategy.

Concomitant Injuries Associated With ACL Rupture in Elite Professional Alpine Ski Racers and Soccer Players: A Comparative Study With Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

For elite professional soccer players and alpine skiers, injuries associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, such as meniscal, cartilage, or collateral ligament lesions, could result in a delayed return to sport compared with isolated ACL injury. The purpose of the study was to provide a detailed description of associated injuries at the time of primary ACL reconstruction in elite soccer players and alpine skiers. It was hypothesized that soccer players and skiers would present different typical injury patterns due to different injury mechanisms. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Surgical reports and arthroscopic images of elite professional soccer players and alpine skiers who underwent primary ACL reconstruction at a single institution between January 2010 and June 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. The presence and location of multiligamentous injury, meniscal tears, and chondral lesions were compared between the athlete groups. A propensity score matching analysis with 1:1 ratio was performed between skiers and soccer players to limit the effect of selection bias. Included were ACL reconstruction data representative of 37 soccer players and 44 alpine skiers. Meniscal pathology was found in 32 (86%) soccer players and 30 (68%) skiers. Chondral injuries were reported in 11 (30%) soccer players and 15 (34%) skiers. Results of the propensity score matching analysis in 15 pairs of soccer players and skiers indicated that soccer players had a significantly higher rate of medial meniscal injuries (73% vs 27%; P = .03) and lateral posterior root tears (33% vs 0%; P = .04) compared with skiers. A higher prevalence of combined chondral and meniscal injuries versus isolated ACL injuries was observed in both groups of athletes. Professional soccer players were characterized by higher prevalence of medial meniscal tears and lateral posterior root lesions compared with professional alpine skiers.

Dendrometrijske karakteristike planinskog javora (Acer heldreichii. Orph.) u istočnom dijelu Bosne i Hercegovine

Balkan maple spreads throughout the entire Balkan Peninsula from Greece in the south, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, all the way to the northernmost deposit in Serbia on Mount Rudnik, and the northernmost deposit in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the slopes of Mount Trebević. This study presents the results of dendrometric characteristics of Balkan maple at the Trebević, Jahorina, and Tvičijak sites near Rogatica. The analysis included a total of 75 trees, where all the trees of the Balkan maple were found and marked by examining the three mentioned research sites. Populations of Balkan maple were found on the north and northeast exposure of the investigated areas at altitudes up to 1570 m, which also shows, according to previous research, that the largest quantity and coverage, as well as the greatest dimension, of Balkan maple are reached in subalpine vegetation. Balkan maple has great significance in terms of protecting the soil from erosion, improving ecological conditions for the survival of other plant species, and due to the increasing frequency of logging for the purpose of forming ski slopes, cable cars and power lines on our mountains, Balkan maple is becoming increasingly rare, so it needs to be given much more attention.

Tracing burnout during adolescence to past sports experiences: a retrospective analysis of sport-specific antecedents among alpine ski racers

IntroductionPrevious theoretical frameworks focusing on burnout have identified numerous antecedents and psychosocial risk factors; however, the influence of early sport-specific experiences on burnout in developmental athlete populations remains less understood. ObjectivesWe explored the associations between burnout and prior sports engagement (ie, milestones, practice time, performance, injury history) in a sample of subelite academy alpine ski racers in the United States (N = 169, M age = 15.82 ± 1.80). MethodsParticipants completed retrospective practice history profiles (milestones, practice time, injury), while their respective performance data were collected using an online national ranking registry. Simple and mixed-effect regressions were implemented to assess the associations between these measures and subscales of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. ResultsThe results indicated that greater participation in the coach-led group and individual practice during adolescence mitigated burnout responses (ie, greater sense of accomplishment, less sport devaluation), whereas more play earlier in development was associated with greater devaluation. Furthermore, poorer performance and more injury incidences were associated with increased burnout (ie, reduced sense of accomplishment). ConclusionsThe structure of training and past experiences during early career years appear to influence burnout among alpine ski racing during their adolescent years, the implications of which are discussed in relation to sport developmental pipelines.