The purpose of our research was to establish the variability of correlation between the length of the jumps and selected multi-item kinematic variables (n=9) in the early flight phase technique of ski jumping. This study was conducted on a sample of elite Slovenian ski jumpers (N=29) who participated in the experiment on a jumping hill in Hinterzarten, Germany (HS95m) on the 20th of August, 2008. The highest and most significant correlations (p=0.01) with the length of the ski jump were found in the multi-item variable height of flying, which was also expressed with the highest level of stability of the explained total variance (TV) on the first factor (TV=69.13%). The most important characteristic of the aerodynamic aspect of early flight was the variable angle between the body chord and the horizontal axis with significantly high correlations (p<0.05). The stability of that aerodynamic factor was very high (TV=65.04%). The results were essentially similar for the multi-item variable angle between left leg and the horizontal axis (TV=61.88%). The rest of the multi-item kinematic variables did not have significant correlations with the multi-item variable length of jump. Only two more variables, the angle between the upper body and the horizontal plane (TV=53.69%), and the angle between left ski and left leg (TV=50.13%), had an explained common variance on the first factor greater than 50% of total variance. The results indicated that some kinematic parameters of ski jumping early flight technique were more important for success considering the length of the jump.

in-run velocity -km/h, vertical take-off velocity -m/s, precision of take-off -cm). The criteria variable was the length of the jump (m). The variability of the long distance of the jumps was significantly strong. The reliability of all used multi-item variables was high and satisfactory in most variables (in-run velocity -0.98, vertical take-off velocity -0.98, precision of take-off -0.85 , length of the jump -0.95). The factor analysis produced an independent latent structure (explanation of variance = 93.3%) of five specific factors (1. inrun velocity connected to distance jumped (39.8 % of VAR.), 2. vertical take-off velocity strongly connected to distance jumped (26.0 % of VAR.), 3. precision of take-off partly connected to distance jumped (14.9 % of VAR.), 4. precision of take-off in the 7th round (6.7 % of VAR.), 5. precision at take-off in the 4th round (5.7 % of VAR.). The present factor structure confirms the hypothetical model of three independent motor tasks to be optimally realized in the take-off of the ski jumper. Criteria variables influencing the length of jumps were mainly associated with the first two factors, which confirm the basic hypothesis that the length of the jump reflects the overall output quality of the first two factors. The accurancy factor of take-off affects the length of the jumps indirectly and latently through these two fundamental factors.

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Purpose. The main purpose of the present research paper was to establish a hierarchical factor structure in a selected sample of morphological and motor variables of ski jumpers; such variables are base constituents of the potential performance model in ski jumping. Basic procedures. The subject sample was Slovene ski jumpers older than 15 years (n = 72), tested in May 2008. The research was done on a selection of 41 variables (12 basic morphological ones, seven from a special morphological index, 10 basic motoric ones and 12 special dynamic variables of take-off power). Main findings. Through factor analysis in the first phase, nine factors were excluded from the manifest variables of first orders: 1. Factor of velocity power (34.9% of variance); 2. Factor of longitudinal body dimensions (17.2% of variance); 3. Factor of morphological index of flight aerodynamics (12.2% of variance); 4. Factor of morphological index of take-off (7.3% of variance), 5. Factor of push-off explosive power (5.0% of variance), 6. Factor of informatic component of motorics (3.5% of variance); 7. Factor of specific morphological index of thigh dimensions (3.1% of variance), 8. Factor of transversal dimensions of body (2.4% of variance), 9. Factor of flexibility of hips (2.2% of variance). All nine factors of the first order explained 88% of variance of manifest variables. On the basis of configuration of nine factors of the first order in the second phase, four components were excluded from the second order with 62.7% of total variance. The first was component of specific take-off movement (22.9% of variance), followed by component of thigh dimension (14.5% of variance), then component of specific flight potential (13.0% of variance) and finally component of basic morphology (12.1% of variance). On the third level of factor analysis, two general factors of ski jumpers with 57.1% of total variance were found. The first was the general factor of specific movement of ski jumpers (29.8% of variance) and second the general factor of morphology (27.7% of variance). Conclusions. The research confirms the main hypothesis that hierarchical latent factor structures of manifest motor and morphological variables exist. The independent primary factors of the first order are crucial for understanding the latent dimensions of the potential performance model on the second and third level. This factor shows the structure between manifest dimensions more clearly and their relations are more understandable.

A biathlon sprint competition event consists of a number of segments (variables), i.e. cross country skiing time, range time, so-called time difference (also consisting the time of penalty loops), and shooting performance. In the research part, the study analyzed the interrelations of these variables and their correlations with competitive performance at the Biathlon World Championship sprint competition. Regression analysis showed that total cross country skiing time is the most important determinant of competitive performance (74%). Total shooting performance prone and standing explains for 17%, and total range time accounts for 9% of the criterion variable. Factorial analysis determined five factors which logically complete the competition outcome in a biathlon sprint competition. These factors are: cross country skiing performance, shooting performance in the first lap – prone shooting, shooting time in the second lap, shooting performance in the second lap – standing shooting, shooting time in the first lap. In this sprint competition, cross country skiing time was found to be the determining effect on the overall competitive performance under the assumption of a relatively high shooting performance (at that particular event the average shooting accuracy was 89%). Given the large group of potentially successful competitors and the thinning time gaps between them, the demands for competitive performance are increasing. In sprint competitions, cross country skiing speed has joined high shooting accuracy in the group of factors determining competitive performance, and elite biathletes often win advantage over other competitors by demonstrating very fast and accurate shooting.