INTRODUCTION: For learning and improving alpine skiing technique versatile methods, tools and equipments are applied. A basic idea of the most of these learning aids is to offer some-thing similar to the intended target movement on different levels of observation, On a most abstract level gliding skills in general are considered as supportive for alpine skiing. A Problem with respect to the application of most popular snow sport equipment like Snow-board, Mono-ski, Telemark-ski or Sqwal towards transfer on alpine skiing technique are their different degrees of freedom, their different numbers and sides of gliding edges. Due to these differences the offered space of movement solution is assumed to have too little commonalities with alpine skiing technique. The aim of this project was to develop a snow sport tool that provides I) more phenomenological similarities with downhill skiing for enlarging an athletes future movement space of solutions, II) differences in the learning process for stabilizing the potential downhill skiing race behavior. METHODS: On the basis of mechanical and biomechanical criteria for alpine skiing (Niessen & Müller 1999) the construction of the "Twincarver" had to fulfill 5 criteria: a) parallel skis realized by means of a lever mechanism that can be fixed on two normal skis/bindings b) adaptation to different slopes realized by means of link mechanism (bearing) allowing three-dimensional swiveling motion, c) synchronized edging of the outside and inside ski by means of a parallelogram control system, d) balanced pressure distributions onto the edges of either the outside and inside ski by means of a shock absorber unit, and e) an autokinetic rebound System for quick and economic turns by means of retracting and elastic elements. Additional experience acquired from the qualitative Interviews conducted with skiers resulted in constructive steps to the technical optimization of the twincarver device. RESULTS: Pilot studies (Fig.1) accompanied by Interviews confirm the realization of criteria a)-e) in the "Twincarver" (Fig. 2). All athletes' reports describe intensive kinesthetic feedback and improvement of Sensation for movement regulation in alpine skiing technique. Most often different sensations on the switch from the twincarver to the alpine ski are reported. DISCUSSION: In comparison to other snow sport tools the "twincarver" seems to provoke more adequate differences in the athletes behavior and widens the space of potential solution in downhill skiing. According to the differential learning approach (Schöllhorn 1999) the sensory and activation differences in combination with external constancy lead to an improved downhill skiing technique. CONCLUSION: The "twincarver" has the potential for a highly effective learning aid for downhill skiing on the basis of the differential learning approach.
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