title: Factors Associated with the Perception of Speed among Recreational Skiers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skiers have to differ between slow to moderate and fast skiing speed to determine their skiing style according to the ISO 11088 standard for setting binding release values. Despite existing evidence that males ski significantly faster than females, no sex-specific factor was inserted into the ISO 11088 standard.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate factors potentially associated with the perception of individual skiing speed among recreational skiers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skiing speeds of 416 adult skiers (62% males,) were measured with a radar speed gun. Skiers were interviewed about their age, sex, skill level, risk taking behaviour and helmet use. Finally, skiers had to rate their perceived speed on one out of three speed categories (fast, moderate, slow).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measured mean speed of this cohort was 48.2±14.3 km/h (30.0±8.9 mph). A total of 32%, 52%, and 16% of skiers perceived their actual speed as fast, moderate and slow, respectively. Mean speed differed significantly between the 3 speed categories with a mean of about 53.5±13.7 km/h (33.2±8.5 mph) for fast, 47.6±14.0 km/h (29.6±8.7 mph) for moderate, and 39.4±12.2 km/h (24.5±7.6 mph) for slow skiing, respectively. Sex (η2 = .074), skill level (η2 = .035) and risk taking behavior (η2 = .033) showed significant differences of skiing speeds with regard to the 3 categories of speed perception (all p < .001) while age groups and ski helmet use did not. Males, more skilled skiers and risky skiers perceived their actual speed as fast, moderate and slow, when skiing up to 10 km/h (6 mph) faster compared to females, less skilled and cautious skiers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The perception of skiing speed as fast, moderate or slow depends on sex, skill level, and risk taking behaviour. These findings should be considered when discussing the introduction of a sex factor into the ISO 11088 standard for setting binding release values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruedl
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burtscher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D054874:Athletic Performance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010465:Perception; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012865:Skiing