The Effects of Coordination Trainings on Different Surfaces on the Slalom Downhill Speed Velocity of Snowboarders

Abstract

Purpose: Snowboarding is a branch of sport, an individual Alpine sport, which requires superior physical structure. In snowboarding, snowboarders are expected to have high level aerobic and anaerobic strength to become successful. In the present study, the effects of training programs on different surfaces on slalom downhill speed of snowboarding-Alpine snowboarders were examined.

Methods: 18 male snowboarders in the Turkish National Snowboarding Alpine team participated in the study. Snowboarders were divided into two groups. Experimental group (G1) was divided into train on non-stable surface and stable surface groups. The experimental group got a coordination and classical snowboarding training program on different surfaces over 8 weeks for 2 days per week (Tuesday-Thursday). Stable surfaces were used on Tuesday and consisted of surfaces with Bosu ball, balance rope, plates ball, balance cushion, balance board, and balance disk. Non-stable surfaces were used on Wednesday and consisted foo skiing exercises that will disturb the balance of the sport player including straight slalom track, degrade surface track, skiing on hard surface, skiing on soft surface, skiing on one foot with eyes open, skiing with eyes closed. The control group (CG) received a classical training program. Trainings were scheduled to leave at least 36 hours between two application days. To determine the speed capacities of the snowboarders the slalom downhill speed test was used; to test agility, the hexagonal test was used, and to measure balance techno body prokin static and dynamic balance tests were used. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics were used. For comparative analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test was used and the significance level was selected as 0.05.

Findings: The research results revealed that coordination trainings conducted on different surfaces for 8 weeks had a significant effect on slalom downhill speed of snowboarding-Alpine snowboarders.