Six advanced slalom skiers were recruited to test four different ski designs over the summer months of 2010. An axial load transducer, boat global positioning system and skier global positioning system were used to calculate rope load and velocity for the skier during the deep water start and cutting portion of a slalom run. The methodology was designed where possible to reduce the uncontrollable factors that present themselves in the natural environment of slalom water skiing. There was statistical evidence to suggest that there was a difference in the average peak rope load produced between the skis during cutting. The typical average peak rope load and skier velocity, for an advanced skier, during the cutting portion of a ski run is in the range of 1.41–2.74 times body weight. The instrumentation was unable to provide enough evidence to suggest that there was a difference in the peak skier velocity during cutting or peak rope load during deep water starts. The typical average peak skier velocity while cutting, and rope load, during a deep water start, for an advanced skier, was in the range of 114–135% of boat speed and 1.74–2.74 times body weight. Furthermore, there was a statistical difference in the overall performance of the skiers participating in the study. The analysis techniques utilized in this study have the potential of providing more quantitative performance evaluation data than is currently available for water ski product development and coaching, and should prove useful for future performance-driven development and coaching.

Water skiing has received little attention in research literature and has not utilized recent advancements in analysis technology like other highly dynamic sports. In this study, six advanced slalom skiers were recruited to test four different high-performance ski designs, with the goal being to detect performance differences achieved between ski designs and between skiers during slalom turns. To aid the analysis of the resulting activity data, a series of 11 quantitative performance parameters were defined and studied. Instrumentation included a skier-mounted, wireless, Global Positioning System sensor providing instantaneous skier velocity, a uniaxial force transducer providing rope load, and a wireless, inertial measurement unit attached to the skis to provide ski roll, ski acceleration and deceleration. Statistical analysis suggested that there was a difference in the average peak roll achieved between the skis, but was unable to suggest a difference between skis in the other performance parameters. In contrast, however, statistical analysis indicated that there was a difference in the performance achieved between the skiers, which is supported by their slalom course success rates. The identified performance parameters were effective at differentiating skier ability levels with the subject with the highest success rate among the top three highest scoring for 10 of 11 parameters and the subject with the lowest success rate was among the bottom 2 in all 11 parameters.

Many highly dynamic sporting activities are now quantitatively analyzed to optimize athletic performance and provide information required for equipment optimization. Water skiing (with its challenging environmental conditions) has to date received only minimal attention in this area. The objective of this study was to create an instrumentation system suitable for analyzing the biomechanics of slalom water skiing. An instrumentation system and methodology were designed and implemented to collect quantitative data for slalom water skiing at the advanced level. The chosen performance parameters of interest for slalom water skiing turns were skier velocity, ski acceleration, ski deceleration, ski roll and rope load. Four sensors were used to collect data to calculate the parameters of interest: a boat-based global positioning sensor unit, a skier-mounted global positioning system unit, axial load transducer mounted in the tow rope and a ski-mounted inertial measurement unit. A novel custom-fabricated and programmed wireless communication system was incorporated in the study to allow rapid data communication and acquisition. Results indicate that the instrumentation system developed for this study was successful in providing the data deemed necessary for the biomechanical analysis of slalom water skiing. The data provide a unique look into the complex three-dimensional biomechanics of slalom water skiing. This same quantitative data would be suitable for advanced ski equipment design, injury prevention and high-level athlete coaching of slalom skiers. It is also expected that the equipment developed for this study would be suitable for use at novice and intermediate levels of water skiing and with minor alternations could be applied to the analysis of other open-water sports.

Task and physical demands analyses together can identify common and extreme postures and postural sequences, duration, frequency, and forces for Griffon Helicopter aircrew tasks and missions. A tasks and associated physical demands model was developed to estimate neck loads caused primarily by Night Vision Goggle usage. This integrated task and physical demands analysis was used to assess various solutions such as counterbalance or lighter helmets.

Task analyses and physical demands analyses are combined to identify common and extreme postures and postural sequences, durations, frequency, and forces for Griffon Helicopter aircrew tasks, mission phases, and whole missions. The result is a comprehensive model of tasks and associated physical demands from which one can estimate the accumulative neck loads and moments caused by Night Vision Googles usage. Combining task and physical demands analyses yields a methodology for building a model of human work where information processing and physical demands are equally important for finding effective solutions to work issues.