Comparative analysis of high performance alpine skis by subjective evaluations and field/laboratory engineering characterisation.

The design and optimization of high-performance sports equipment, particularly in alpine skiing, require a deep understanding of the interactions between the mechanical properties of the equipment, its dynamic response on snow, and the athlete's perception. However, a significant gap often exists between parameters measured in the laboratory and the sensations reported by skiers. This thesis aims to perform a multidisciplinary comparative analysis of different models of high-performance alpine skis. To this end, an integrated experimental campaign was conducted, structured on three levels: mechanical characterization in the laboratory (vibrational analysis and Slytech bench), instrumented field tests using load cells and inertial sensors (IMUs), and the collection of subjective evaluations. The objective of the study is to cross-reference the collected data to investigate potential correlations between objective engineering metrics and perceived performance parameters.