Kinematic determinants of the Tomoa skip starting in elite male speed climbing athletes

This study investigated the kinematic characterise of the Tomoa skip start in speed climbing. Eleven male athletes were analysed using the Fastmove 3D Motion system to quantify their joint angles, temporal parameters and contact point characteristics. The start phase was divided into three distinct stages: the pre-swing, push and climbing stages. The results revealed that lower limb joint angles demonstrated a stronger correlation with start performance than upper limb angles throughout the entire phase. Notably, joint angles during the climbing stage exhibited the greatest influence on start time. Additionally, shorter limb contact times were associated with better start performance. These findings suggest that technical models for the Tomoa skip start should prioritise lower body kinematics and minimising ground contact to optimise performance.