Acceleration-Time Relationships in an Ice Skating Start

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the fundamental characteristics of the ice skating start through an analysis of the acceleration patterns exhibited during the first 20 feet of skating. A Locam 16 mm camera, operated at 100 frames per second, was used to film the skating starts of four subjects. The subjects possessed varying levels of skating ability ranging from moderately skilled to expert. The segmental method was used to determine the centers of gravity of each subject at every fourth frame of film throughout the first 20 feet of the starting task. The horizontal coordinates were plotted to form displacement curves. A fifth degree polynomial curve fit was used to smooth the displacement and velocity curves in order to generate acceleration-time functions. Analysis of the results indicated that similar patterns existed for all subjects. The acceleration curves typically revealed high acceleration initially and this lasted for approximately 1.25 seconds. The curves then tapered off and acceleration returned to zero for three of the four subjects before brief periods of deceleration began. As a result of the analysis undertaken, three conclusions were warranted: First, although ability levels varied, there were basically similar acceleration patterns for all four subjects; second, the greatest period of acceleration during the skating start occurred immediately following the first overt movement from a stationary position and lasted for approximately 1.25 seconds; and third, despite alternate periods of single and double support, continuous, positive acceleration occurred throughout approximately the first 1.75 seconds of the front style power skating start.