Take-off and landing techniques in snowboard halfpipe based on inertial measurement units and kinematics analysis

Background The unique characteristics of snowboard halfpipe projects present a research challenge. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) show promise in addressing the prevailing research problems due to their numerous advantages. This study aims to explore the key technical characteristics of the take-off and landing phases in snowboard halfpipe to analyse the key factors that affect the take-off quality and landing stability of athletes at different sport levels. Methods The study used an IMU-based motion capture system combined with high-speed video recording ( via Xsens and Fastcam Mini WX100 high-speed cameras) to collect kinematic data from halfpipe snowboarders during their movement process. Results The elite athletes reached the vertical position at approximately 50% of the normalized take-off phase, compared with approximately 60% in novice athletes. The overall speeds achieved by the elite athletes were greater than those of the novice athletes. The elite group demonstrated a lower flexion range of motion and a stiffer landing pattern than the novice group. Conclusion These findings suggest that snowboard halfpipe performance may depend on the coordinated control of take-off timing, snowboard inclination, and landing posture.