Scoring Analysis of the Men’s 2013 World Championship Tour of Surfing

The study compared scores obtained by the 10 highest and lowest ranked athletes on the men’s 2013 World Championship Tour (WCT) of surfing. Significant differences (p\u3c.001) were identified between the two groups’ average wave scores, average total scores and total heats competed. In addition, the average standard deviation (SD) of each surfer’s wave score was significantly different (p = .020) between the two groups. Significant moderate correlations were identified between athletes’ average placing and the SD of their wave scores (r = .596, p = .006), and total heat scores (r=.474, p=.035). Repeated measures ANOVA also revealed significant differences between heat scores obtained during the final and all previous rounds (p \u3c .001-.041). In conclusion, higher ranked surfers achieved higher wave scores and heat totals, and were more consistent in scoring. On average, a 1.04 point increase per wave score would allow a bottom 10 ranked surfer to reach the top 10, a small but impactful gain

Scoring analysis of the men’s 2014, 2015 and 2016 world championship tour of surfing: the importance of aerial manoeuvres in competitive surfing.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of aerial manoeuvres on scoring in professional surfing. 23631 waves were analysed for the number and types of aerial manoeuvres performed from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Men's World Championship Tour. Additionally, the awarded score, timing and order of the aerial was also analysed. Descriptive statistics and Two Way ANOVA's were performed with Sidak Multiple Comparisons Post Hoc analysis. Results were a significantly higher score being awarded (P?0.0001) when including an aerial in competition across all three seasons. In 2015 surfers were awarded a significantly larger score when performing an air reverse, compared to 2014 (P=0.0002) and 2016 (P=0.0057). Surfers were also awarded a higher score for the full rotation aerial in 2015 compared to 2014 (P=0.0177). In 2015 surfers performing forehand aerials were awarded a greater score than in 2016 (P=0.0113). The timing of the aerial and score awarded was significantly greater in 2015 as opposed to 2014 when the aerial was their final manoeuvre (P< 0.0001) and when surfers timed the aerial performance early within the heat (P = 0.0027). If a surfer incorporates an aerial manoeuvre during competition, generally speaking, they will be awarded a significantly higher score

Workloads of Competitive Surfing: Work-to-Relief Ratios, Surf-Break Demands, and Updated Analysis

The study provides an in-depth descriptive and quantitative time-motion analysis of competitive surfing, using Global PositioningSystem (GPS) units and video synchronization, which serves toextend upon the results of Farley, Harris, and Kilding (Journal ofStrength and Conditioning Research, 26, 7 [2012]). In addition,comparisons between locations and surfers competing in thesame heats were performed. Global Positioning System andvideo data were collected from 41 male competitive surfers(23.266.1 years, 71610.3 kg, 177.266.4 cm) participatingin 3 professional domestic surfing events, with competitive heatsof 20-minute duration. Fifty data sets were analyzed across the 3competitions, with velocities and distances covered, proportionof time spent performing various surfing activities, and totalwork-to-relief ratio determined. Results revealed surfers paddled44% of the total time, followed by stationary periods (42%).Surfers performed at a significantly (p#0.05) higher work-to-relief ratio (1.7:1) at the Beach-break (an exposed beach) com-pared with point-break 1 and 2 (waves breaking around a rockypoint). Point-breaks 1 and 2 had longer continuous durations ofpaddling, with significantly longer rides at point-break 1 over theBeach-break (p#0.01) and point-break 2 (p#0.01). Theaverage maximal speed (24.8 km$h21) from point-break 2 wassignificantly faster than point-break 1 (p#0.01) and Beach-break (p#0.05). This information should influence surfing drills and conditioning methods to prepare these athletes for the disparate demands, such as training for a point-break competition involving longer durations of continuous paddling and short, high-intensity workloads for a Beach-break

Skating sprint performance and the influence of lower-body strength and power in professional and junior elite ice hockey athletes.

Skating sprint performance is essential for competitive success in ice hockey; however, it is unknown which component of a skating sprint is most critical for development throughout the performance pathway. Fifty-seven Swiss male ice hockey athletes were subjects (National League [NL],  = 22; Under 20 [U20],  = 20; Under 17 [U17],  = 15). Athletes performed: on-ice 30 m skating sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) tests in a single day. Linear mixed models, effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals were used to compare sprint performance and CMJ, SJ and IMTP between each performance level, with a correlation matrix used to determine the influence of lower-body strength and power on sprint performance. The NL and U20 athletes were significantly faster and had greater performance in most CMJ, SJ and IMTP variables compared to the U17 athletes, indicating minimum standards of lower-body strength and power are required to optimise technical performance. Significant differences were observed between NL and U20 for 10-20 m skating sprint split time and CMJ concentric relative peak and mean force, and reactive strength index-modified. Therefore, flying acceleration (10-20 m) is likely the most critical variable for pathway progression, with relative concentric force production the greatest influence

Hip strength profiling of ice hockey athletes across various joint-specific angles : monitoring and injury implications

Secomb, JL, Kelly, M, and Dascombe, BJ. Hip strength profiling of ice hockey athletes across various joint-specific angles: monitoring and injury implications. J Strength Cond Res 37(7): e422-e429, 2023-The purpose of this research was to compare the hip adduction and abduction relative strength, adduction-to-abduction strength ratio (ADD:ABD), and interlimb asymmetries of ice hockey athletes between the typically used bilateral position and 3 unilateral positions in joint-specific angles (0°, 25°, and 50° of hip abduction) relevant to an ice hockey stride. A secondary purpose was to explore any relationships between these measures and hip and groin noncontact injuries, and self-reported pain and disability. Twenty-five semiprofessional male ice hockey athletes (26.7 ± 6.7 years) were assessed for hip abduction range of motion (ROM), hip adduction and abduction relative strength, and completed the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) questionnaire. Within-subjects repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant effect for the assessment position for adduction (F1,24= 52.4, p < 0.01) and abduction relative strength (F1,24= 152.1, p < 0.01), ADD:ABD (F1,24= 38.9, p < 0.01), and the interlimb asymmetries for each of these variables (F1,24= 9.8-12.3; p < 0.01), with large strength differences observed between the bilateral assessment and all unilateral assessment positions for adduction and abduction relative strength. In addition, 4 athletes experienced a noncontact hip or groin injury within 1 month after testing, and when compared with the rest of the cohort (n = 21) with Welch's t-tests, demonstrated significantly reduced hip abduction ROM (mean difference [MD] =-8.4 ± 2.5°; p < 0.01), sport subscale score for the HAGOS questionnaire (MD =-33.9 ± 7.1; p < 0.01), and a decline in hip adduction relative strength in the unilateral position of 50° compared with the position of 25° hip abduction (MD =-13.4 ± 3.8; p = 0.04). These results suggest that practitioners working with ice hockey athletes may benefit from profiling hip strength in these unilateral joint-specific angle positions because they provide an evidence base to determine the hip strength needs of ice hockey athletes in positions associated with skating performance and noncontact hip and groin injury mechanisms (between 25° and 50° of hip abduction)

Importance of joint angle-specific hip strength for skating performance in semiprofessional ice hockey athletes

ABSTRACT: Secomb, JL, Dascombe, BJ, and Nimphius, S. Importance of joint angle-specific hip strength for skating performance in semiprofessional ice hockey athletes. J Strength Cond Res 35(9): 2599-2603, 2021-Ice hockey athletes with faster sprint acceleration and change-of-direction (COD) skating performance possess a competitive advantage. However, it is unknown whether joint angle-specific hip strength, in combination with measures known to relate to skating performance (e.g., countermovement jump [CMJ]), better explains skating performance. The purpose of this research was to determine whether hip strength in joint angles specific to skating positions and CMJ performance explains sprint skating acceleration and COD performance. Thirteen semiprofessional male hockey (26.7 ± 6.7 years; 88.4 ± 18.1 kg; 181.9 ± 5.4 cm) athletes were assessed for CMJ performance, hip abduction and adduction strength, 10-m sprint skating acceleration, and COD (505) performance. Linear multiple regressions to predict skating acceleration and COD performance were calculated with variables chosen based on functional justification and magnitude of correlation. Hip abductor relative peak force (rPF) at 25° of hip abduction and CMJ rPF explained 46.0% (adjusted) of variance in sprint acceleration performance (F[2,12] = 6.18, p = 0.02). Countermovement jump peak eccentric velocity, adductor rPF at 50° of hip abduction, and difference in abductor rPF between 50° and 25° of hip abduction explained 85.0% (adjusted) of the variance in 505 time (F[3,12] = 22.8, p \u3c 0.001). Hip strength at joint angles functionally relevant to skating (e.g., at 25° and 50°), in combination with relevant CMJ variables, explained large and very large amounts of variance in sprint skating acceleration and COD performance in this cohort. The inclusion of joint angle-specific hip strength profiling to a physical performance testing battery may provide practitioners with more specific knowledge on the strength of the hip through abduction range of motion, which may affect skating performance

Reductions in sprint paddling ability and countermovement jump performance following surfing training

The present study aimed to determine whether any meaningful change in a surfer\u27s sprint paddling ability and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance developed after a 2-hour surfing training session and also whether any physical demands of the surfing session were related to the resultant changes in the capacities. Fifteen competitive male surfing athletes (age, 22.1 ± 3.9 years; height, 175.4 ± 6.4 cm; body mass, 72.5 ± 7.7 kg) performed a 2-hour surfing training session, with 15-m sprint paddle and CMJ trials performed both before and after the surfing session. Pre- to posttesting measures were analyzed using magnitude-based inferences. Likely declines were observed in the velocity achieved at the 5-, 10-, and 15-m splits of the 15-m sprint paddle, as well as peak velocity. Similarly, likely declines were calculated for CMJ peak force, relative peak force, and jump height. Furthermore, large correlations were calculated between presurfing session peak velocity and the change in 5, 10, 15 m, and peak velocity of the 15-m sprint paddle and total distance covered, wave riding bouts, and success rate. Surfing athletes and coaches may need to consider implementing shorter duration training sessions to reduce the decline in sprint paddling ability and CMJ performance. Furthermore, surfing athletes should possess highly developed sprint paddling ability because this may allow them to undertake a greater workload and catch more waves, which will increase the opportunity for technical refinement of maneuvers and skill acquisition

Ankle proprioception, range of motion and drop landing ability differentiates competitive and non-competitive surfers

Objectives: To determine whether ankle proprioception differs by competitive level and is related to years of surf-specific experience. A secondary objective of this study is to further compare the physical capacities and abilities that may differentiate between the competitive levels of surfing. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: Twelve junior-elite (currently competing at a state level or higher and 12–18 years of age), twelve senior-elite (currently competing at a national level and/or the World Qualifying Series and over 16 years of age), and twelve recreational surfers (minimum of two years surfing experience; actively surfing at least once a week and over 18 years of age) were recruited for this study. All participants completed a pre-exercise medical questionnaire, anthropometric assessment, ankle dorsiflexion range of motion assessment, medial-lateral ankle proprioception assessment, countermovement jump, squat jump, isometric mid-thigh pull and drop-and-stick. Results: Senior-elite surfers had large and significantly better ankle proprioception and range of motion than junior-elite and recreational surfers. However, the relationship between years of surf-specific experience and ankle proprioception was small and non-significant. Better drop-and-stick performance, indicated by lower relative peak force, was present in the senior-elite compared to the junior-elite and recreational groups. Conclusions: The results indicate that medial-lateral ankle proprioception is a distinguishing characteristic of senior-elite surfers and therefore, may be a critical ability for competitive success. Greater ankle range of motion and the ability to attenuate energy to reduce landing force may be developed through long-term training commensurate with competitive surfing

Ankle Proprioception in Male and Female Surfers and the Implications of Motor Experience and Lower-Body Strength

The primary objectives were to evaluate if the active movement extent discrimination apparatus (AMEDA) condition (i.e., front foot and back foot plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, inversion, and eversion) and the level of competition explained ankle movement discrimination scores and, thereafter, examined the contribution of surf experience, physical capacity, and ability to proprioception. It was also considered important to re-evaluate the surf experience, anthropometric characteristics, physical capacities, and abilities of male and female surfers. Twenty-six male (n = 12, surf experience = 18 ± 8 years) and female surfers (n = 14, surf experience = 9 ± 6 years) completed a pre-exercise medical questionnaire, anthropometric assessment, 8 AMEDA assessments, countermovement jump, squat jump, and isometric midthigh pull assessment. The AMEDA condition and level of competition did not have a statistically significant main effect on ankle movement discrimination scores; however, the effect of the gender/sex was significant (p = 0.044). Surf experience (p = 0.029) and lower-body isometric strength (p = 0.029) had a statistically significant but small main effect on ankle movement discrimination scores. The results also confirmed that there were significant differences in surf experience, anthropometric characteristics, physical capacity, and jumping ability between male and female surfers. As surf experience and physical capacity were only able to explain a small magnitude of ankle movement discrimination scores, it is suggested that ankle proprioception in surfers may be related to both the volume and quality of the motor experience attained, which may be augmented by environmental and sociocultural factors