Classification of motion speed
Motion speed can be divided into speeding, which means skiing faster than our own skill level, inappropriate speed, which is skiing faster than the conditions allow, and appropriate speed, referring to the suitable speed in relation to our skill level and slope conditions.
Speed restriction
We possess our own speed restriction, being a subjective estimation closely related to our technical level and emotional state. For example, while skiing over an icy or uneven area, we normally tend to decrease our speed because the demanding conditions make it difficult to maintain it.
Slope settings, as well as skill level, impose speed constraint which, if exceeded, will hinder our control and our balance. Risk increases when we exceed our own speed limit since the faster we ski, the more the reaction time increases to a potential collision due to tunnel vision.
We tend to defy speed restriction because of our sensation seeking. Many of skiing accidents are because of speed excess and, for our own safety as well as that of others, it is fundamental to estimate one’s own speed limit as best as possible.
Helmet use not only may influence speed underestimation by noise reduction; it also may do it because of the false belief to feel safer, which may lead to increase speed threshold and/or diminish risk perception.
Gaze fixation influences speed perception
Gaze fixation to proximal space, besides inducing stability decrease, is perceived as greater motion speed. The beginner, who habitually focus gaze to an area close to his skis, perceives the ground’s optic flow, making him believe he is sliding faster than convenient and, therefore, tends to break constantly.
The expert skier, by looking further, does not perceive that his speed is excessive because by looking closer to the horizon, his perception of the optic flow coming from the ground decreases, getting greater stability as well.
For skiers suffering speed because it seems excessive, do not feel comfortable, or fear not to control it, looking the distant space will make their motion to be perceived slower and this may diminish their speed anguish.
Speed and uncertainty
Our ability to minimize uncertainty regarding our skiing depends on the processing rate about the detected information from the environment. We need to anticipate slope conditions to reduce uncertainty at the time of planning our actions. If slope information is limited or our brain takes too long to process it, then speed should be reduced. Traffic increases uncertainty since we cannot predict the behavior of other skiers or snowboarders standing still or in motion.
Speed perception and risk acceptance
Our risk acceptance influences our speed perception: if our acceptance level is low, it will also be our speed and vice versa. The conscious skier usually avoids taking risks, which it is not the case of skiers that have the need to ski fast, but they should have in mind that at greater speeds may face greater risks. High-speed skiers believe they enjoy more their skiing while slower skiers consider it is dangerous to ski faster.
We can conclude that our speed choice is established by the risk level or safety perception we have as much as the pleasure we feel while skiing.
Reactions to speed perception
Our vestibular system detects accelerations and decelerations during motion. In its functioning, there are two situations observed in relation to the speed we are experiencing. One is underreacting to acceleration; in this case, we can tolerate large accelerations without affecting us what is, to some extent, a potential risk.
On the other hand, overreacting may cause anxiety towards the sensation produced when our body accelerates. In this case, we exhibit intolerance to accelerations and suffer when our skiing speed exceeds a certain level.
Visual perception of motion at high speed
At increasing motion speed, we increase the use of central vision. Speed stress increases the attention load of the fovea and decreases our peripheral vision, which is known as tunnel vision: at more speed, more tunnel vision.
In addition, while skiing at high speed, we cannot process all available information so we will have to minimize or eliminate irrelevant information, extending gaze towards the distant zone. If the strain of visual perception to high-speed motion increases, then we should augment visual fixation time or decrease our speed.
Influence of skiing gear in speed perception
When skiing with different skis or boots than we are used to, we may observe the tendency to ski at slower speeds because our motor and sensory systems controlling them do not properly fit with the sensory feedback of the new equipment, needing greater attention while adapting to them. We can also ski at normal speed by choosing to tolerate a higher level of uncertainty or anxiety caused by skiing with different skis or boots.
An additional aspect related to speed perception and its relationship with gear is that when we increase our speed, the chances of retrieving our skis’ control may decrease, leading to a potential balance disruption.
