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. 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. 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 using a scale and tape measure. Body fat percentage was measured using skin fold calipers. The Modified Bass test (MBASS) was used to measure dynamic balance. A jump height test was used to access 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. Average height and weight for males was 176.4 ± 7.0 cm and 75.4 ± 11.3 kg; average height and weight for females was 164.1 ± 6.1 cm and 60.8 ± 10.2 kg. Average body fat percentage for males and females was 11.6% ± 4.5% and 18.9% ± 6.4%, respectively. Male MBASS error score dominant leg average was 23.1 ± 22.4 and non-dominant leg average was 33.9 ± 22.5; female MBASS error score was dominant leg 15.9 ± 16.67 and non-dominant leg was 31.1 ± 25.21. Male leg power was 1,538.2 ± 334.8 watts and peak leg power was 4,402.9 ± 722.7 watts. Female leg power was 778.2 ± 216.1 watts, peak leg power was 2,634.6 ± 350.1 watts. Male and female T-test times were 11.43 ± 0.60 and 12.57 ± 0.89 seconds, respectively. 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, respectively. 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.