Wearable sensor technology has evolved considerably during the past decades. This continuing development allows technologies previously primarily used in research settings to be applied for performance analysis of regular training sessions. A technology with attractive characteristics currently not well-explored for performance analysis in XC skiing is force or pressure insoles. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential for using force insoles in performance analy sis of XC skiers. Initially, we compare force insole data for skiers at different performance-levels within dif ferent sub-techniques, followed by a demonstration of corresponding data from elite athletes implemented in a performance analysis setting. Comparisons are done by averaging force data for different parts of the insole over 5-15 cycles. Generally, a more even force distribution over the insole was observed during the cycle for lower-level skiers, both when comparing front versus back and lateral versus medial sides. High er level skiers were found to push-off earlier on the strong side for G2, and to have more of the bodyweight concentrated medially in G2 and G4. Lower-level skiers had a tendency to start the push-off more laterally. In the performance analysis, we identified comparisons of data in fresh and fatigued states of hard sessions as a good approach for finding technical weaknesses. Also, analysis of left/right asymmetries provided useful insights for coach-athlete discussions. Based on the presented results, the potential of using force insoles for differentiating skiers` performance-level and for performance analysis as complementary data to video, GNNS and IMUs in a practical application is discussed.
© Copyright 2022 Book of Abstracts. 4th Nordic Winter Sports Conference "Performance in snow sports: Translating science into practice" 3rd-4th October, 2022, Mid Sweden University, Campus Östersund, Sweden. Published by Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre at Mid Sweden University. All rights reserved.