Can we predict the landing performance of simulated aerials in surfing?

ABSTRACT

This study explored which technical and physical attributes could predict superior and/or safe landing performance when surfers performed variations of a simulated aerial task. Fourteen surfers (age 20.6 ± 5.7 years, height 178.1 ± 9.50 cm, mass 70.6 ± 10.8 kg) had their lower limb mobility, squat jump, countermovement jump, and drop-and-stick landing performance assessed. Performance of two aerial variations (Frontside Air (FA) and Frontside Air Reverse (FAR)) was also measured, with variables relating to technical performance (critical feature and subjective ratings) and potential injury risk (relative total peak landing force and loading rates) collected. Multiple linear regressions were used to predict performance of both aerial variations based on a subset of independent variables. Four models could predict performance. Predicted technical capability in the FAR was mostly influenced by lead limb hip extension and lead limb knee flexion range of motion. Potential injury risk when surfers perform an FA and FAR was predicted to be mitigated by increasing lead ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, as well as trail hip extensor mobility to reduce the relative total peak force experienced when landing the FA. These simple outcome measures could be routinely assessed to ensure successful and safe aerial landings in surfing.

KEYWORDS:

• Aerial manoeuvres
• athletic performance
• prediction
• range of motion
• task performance and analysis

Acknowledgments

This research was conducted with the support of an Australian Research Training Program Scholarship. The authors would like to thank Mr Christopher Richards for his technical assistance when developing the data processing programs.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.