Improving Competitive Ski Slope Hardness Control: A Breakthrough Method Developed by RTU Scientists

“The knowledge we have accumulated through long-term studies of the geometry of the slopes, the roughness, the sliding characteristics, the influence of various factors on the ice, and the available modern scientific equipment helped us to discover that the method of controlling the hardness of the slopes, which is used in international competitions, can be significantly improved. The methodology we offer allows you to clearly determine whether unauthorized manipulations have been carried out with the inclines, which cannot be detected with the current method,” says Jānis Lungevičs, the leading researcher of the RTU Institute of Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering, the head of the “Mitutoyo” laboratory.

Ernest Janson

Leading researcher of the Institute of Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering

“The proposed method of controlling the hardness of the slats will bring the competition closer to the competition, where the skill of the athlete will have a greater impact on the result than non-compliant slat processing techniques. Therefore, the probability that athletes who are not from TOP countries also show high results in competitions should increase.”

Scientists from RTU’s Institute of Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering started research related to rink sports more than ten years ago, trying to find out how the surface treatment of rinks affects sliding on ice. Since then, various studies have been carried out, for example, in the Latvian Science Council project “Carbon-enriched multifunctional nanostructured smart coatings (NVP) for high-tech applications and their production using the high-power magnetically compressed plasma method” significantly developed knowledge about microhardness measurements, including surfaces with nanocoatings . The experience and knowledge gained there made it possible to develop the new method of controlling the hardness of the bends.

The scientists also have close cooperation with the Latvian bobsled and skeleton teams in measuring the geometry and hardness of the sleds, helping the athletes to better prepare for competitions. Accurate measurements are vital, as properly prepared inclines are a prerequisite for a competitive start where the battle can be decided by hundredths of a second.

Measurements are made in the Mitutoyo laboratory at RTU. It is the most modern and best equipped geometric metrology laboratory in the Baltics. The most modern laboratory equipment for measuring dimensions is provided by the company “Mitutoyo Poland Sp.oo”.