Future of Alpine Skiing Schools-gender related programs

• Main Authors: Vjekoslav Cigrovski, Nikola Prlenda, Ivan Radman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Montenegrin Sports Academy 2014-03-01
• Series: Montenegrin Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
• Subjects: learning methods; beginner skiers; females; gender diferences
• Online Access: http://www.mjssm.me/?sekcija=article&artid=96
• ISSN: 1800-8755; 1800-8763

Gender differences in anthropological characteristics may influence success in adopting skiing skill if different teaching met¬hods are applied. This study aimed to determine the difference between the level of adopted skiing skill for female and male ski-be¬gin¬ners applying 2 different teaching programs. 126 subjects (30 females; 96 males), average age 23,3±1,6 years participated in 7 days ski-school. Within the male and female group ski-teaching was carried out using 2 different methods: combination method [CM], which implies using of snowplough and parallel ski technique, and direct method [DM], where only parallel ski technique is used. Following the learning process, subjects were tested through 7 elements of skiing technique. For female subjects no diffe¬ren¬ce between two teaching models was recorded, while CM appeared to be more efficient for males in elements traversing to the right (p=0,03), short turn (p<0,05) and parallel turn (p=0,01). Through factor analysis 7 main components were extracted, the first being defined as total skiing knowledge [TSK]. TSK was then compared to two programs carried out on males and females. Diffe¬ren¬ce was determined in the level of TSK for male who learned through CM in comparison to the participants who were learning through the DM (p=0,01), while no difference in the same variable was determined for female. These findings lead to conclusion that using CM in men achieved better results compared to the DM. For the practice, it means that it is not necessary to separate ma¬le and female while forming ski groups for beginner skiers, since females will advance the same, regardless of the learning method.