Bozeman Magazine

Two respected researchers from a German university will speak about the biomechanics of para Alpine skiing on Thursday, Feb. 15, at Montana State University.

Peter Spitzenpfeil and Maren Goll from the Technical University of Munich will speak from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Norm Asbjornson Hall, Room 137, on the MSU campus. Spitzenpfeil will present “Para Alpine Skiing: Research on Performance Characteristics and Equipment,” and Goll will present “Para Alpine Skiing: From Movement Analysis to 3-D Printing in Sit-skiing.” Para Alpine skiing is an adaptation of Alpine skiing for athletes with disabilities.

A question-and-answer session will follow the presentations. The event is free and open to the public.

Spitzenpfeil is head of the Applied Sports Science Operating Unit in the Technical University of Munich’s Department of Health and Sport Sciences. The Applied Sports Science group researches and teaches about sports such as Alpine skiing, ski cross, para skiing, tennis, football, pentathlon and climbing.

Spitzenpfeil’s main research area is in biomechanics and training science. He specializes in engineering and ergonomics of Alpine skiing, Alpine ski racing and Alpine equipment. He has worked with the German Ski Team for more than 30 years and focuses on improving on-snow performance by using applied biomechanics. Spitzenpfeil has published numerous papers on aspects of skiing and equipment design. He is also part of the education team in the German Ski Instructor Association (DSLV) and teaches at the National Elite Coaches Academy.

Goll is also part of the Technical University of Munich‘s Department of Health and Sport Sciences, where she heads its Alpine skiing education program for teaching degree students. She has a ski instructor/Level A coach certification in Alpine skiing through the German Ski Federation.

Goll has spent 12 years working with Alpine athletes on the German Paralympic National Ski Team, where her work includes application, management and execution of numerous scientific projects. She has secured funding for this work through Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Goll’s award-winning work includes research into the metabolic demand of Paralympic Alpine skiing in sit-skiing athletes; strength and conditioning for para Alpine skiing athletes; trunk muscle activity in giant slalom in Paralympic Alpine sit-skiing athletes; optimization of spring and suspension units in monoskis; and athlete-equipment interface optimization, such as sit-ski seat optimization.

Questions may be directed to event organizer John Seifert, professor in the MSU College of Education, Health and Human Development’s kinesiology program, at 406-994-7154 or john.seifert@montana.edu.