INTRODUCTION: A fast start section contributes to race success in ski cross (SX) competitions (Argüelles et al., 2011). Since the design of the start differs in each venue, various inclinations should be trained. This study aimed to compare biomechanical parameters between on-snow start setups in SX elite athletes using a sport-specific training tool. METHODS: 13 athletes (female = 4; male = 9) of the Swiss SX World Cup team were tested in an on-snow training setting. Three-dimensional force sensors in both handles measured upper-body strength during starts in a 20° (flat; arrow_right) and 45° (medium; arrow_down) inclination. RESULTS: The 374 analyzed starts showed that relative maximum force (arrow_right = 19.47 N/kg; arrow_down = 18.64 N/kg), relative maximum force in the direction of travel (arrow_right = 16.49 N/kg; arrow_down = 13.15 N/kg), rate of force development (arrow_right = 3763.11 N/s; arrow_down = 3386.00 N/s) and time to maximum force (arrow_right = .24 s; arrow_down = .19 s) were higher in the flat setup, whereas relative pre force (arrow_right = 5.73 N/kg; arrow_down = 8.48 N/kg) - defined as force on handles before the gate opens - was higher in the medium setup. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The results indicate that athletes in start setups with less inclination generated lower relative pre force but higher relative maximum forces and rate of force development to push themselves out of the gate. Consequently, time to maximum force was higher. With increasing inclination, athletes lost more force in the direction of travel. This study, for the first time, described forces in different on-snow SX start setups - further investigations of the kinematics of the SX start are necessary.
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