How state-of-the-art methods gave China's para snowboarders the edge

The application of sports science has greatly enhanced the performances of China's snowboarders at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, according to the team's coaches.

Last summer, the Chinese riders conducted detailed physical assessments at the Shanghai University of Sports, providing the coaching team with detailed information on each athlete's strengths and weaknesses, coach Zhang Hongzhan said.

"The assessments have allowed us to identify which muscles the athletes have to work harder on. With that information, we can then devise tailor-made training plans for each athlete. Without a doubt, sports science has played a key role in helping the para athletes achieve better performances," Zhang said on Wednesday.

What's more, sports science has also helped coaches better understand the unique body structures of the para athletes so they can work on their weaknesses while avoiding moves that can lead to injuries, Zhang said.

Obviously, para snowboarders have to face more challenges during the rides, according to coach and former professional rider Yin Liankui.

"Para athletes, especially those with disabilities on their legs have to try harder to keep balance," Yin said.

"With the knowledge of their body structures, we can help them to quickly find the best way possible to find that balance, especially when they are in the air."

The sports science team at the university built a start-gate simulator to measure the force that SB-UL para athletes (snowboarders with arm disabilities) place on the handle bars.

"The simulator can show that I put on too much strength on the right side because my disability is on my left hand. So I need to start weight training on my left arm to keep the strength balanced on both handle bars. The simulator has helped me gain an advantage at the start gate," said Ji Lijia who won gold in the snowboard men's cross SB-UL event at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou on Monday.

Wang Pengyao, the silver medalist in that event, said sports science can also help athletes recover faster from muscle fatigue and injuries. "Snowboarding is an extreme sport so muscle fatigue and injuries are unavoidable for athletes with artificial limbs. The team is equipped with rehabilitation devices that can help us improve such conditions."

Besides the sports science team, China's snowboard team at the Beijing Winter Paralympics also has a team of psychology experts to offer support to para athletes. "We can always get instant support, whether there is a problem with the equipment or the athletes are feeling stressed," Yin said.

On Monday, Team China enjoyed a clean sweep of the snowboard men's cross SB-UL medals, with the squad now busy preparing for the banked slalom event.