INTRODUCTION: Well groomed pistes are a good opportunity for skiers to experience flow, due to their specific situational demands. We assume that skiers of different abilities experience these kinds of slopes as a challenge (Rheinberg, 2006). Our field-study (Woitschell, 2010) analyses whether flow experiences while skiing on prepared slopes occur and to what extent speed and ability have a modulating effect. METHOD: The random sample of the study n=112 skiers (w=42; m=70) aged from 10 to 78 years (M=35.9; SD=14.9). Velocity measurements (LAVEG; Jena-Optik) were carried out on a well groomed slope of medium difficulty (Zugspitze skiing area) with the skiers unaware that they were being measured. Immediately after skiing down the test slope subjects were asked to fill out the short version flow-scale (FKS, Rheinberg, Vollmeyer & Engeser, 2003). RESULTS: According to the expectations skiing on a well prepared slope of medium difficulty provides intensive flow experiences (m=5.57, SD=0.66). Speed modulates the general Flow score. The faster one skis the higher is the flow intensity (r=.286, p<.01). Significant positive correlations (p<.01) were found between the skiers' assessment of their skiing skills and the general flow-score (r=.349) and also the subcategory "smoothness of action" (r=.524). DISCUSSION: The results show that a well groomed piste of medium difficulty can provide flow-experiences for skiers of different levels. According to the situational demands and the skiers' skills an individual balance is very often accomplished via the skiers' speed. Further studies that include slopes of different difficulty and moreover consider individual turn radii of the skiers would be helpful. REFERENCES Woilschell, J. (2010). Zur Akzeptanz und Notwendigkeit von temporeduzierten Pistenabschnitten in alpinen Skigebieten. Thesis (Zulassungsarbeit zur Ersten Staatsprüfung für das Lehramt an Gymnasien). Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany. Rheinberg, F. (2006). Intrinsische Motivation und Flow-Erleben. In J. Heckhausen & H. Heckhausen (Hrsg.). Motivation und Handeln. (3.Aufl.), (S. 331-354). Berlin: Springer Rheinberg, F. Vollmeyer, R. & Engeser, S. (2003). Die Erfassung des Flow-Erlebens. In J. Stiensmeier-Pelster & F. Rheinberg (Hrsg.), Diagnostik von Motivation und Selbstkonzept (S 261-279). Göttingen: Hogrete
© Copyright 2010 Book of Abstracts. 5th International Congress on Science and Skiing, Dec. 14 - 19, 2010, St. Christoph am Arlberg. Veröffentlicht von University of Salzburg, Interfakultärer Fachbereich Sport- und Bewegungswissenschaft/USI. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.