Considering perceptual experiences and adaptive actions in performance analysis of elite Formula Kite riders by combining qualitative data and measured key indicators of performance

Abstract

Formula Kite is a high-speed sailing sport using hydrofoils, recently included in the Olympic sports list. In Formula Kite, the riders’ technical abilities to reach and maintain high speed are key to achieving performance. The aim of the present study was to analyze Formula Kite riders’ performance during speed tests in practice sessions by combining qualitative descriptions of their lived perceptual experiences “from the inside” with measured correlates of performance. The courses of experience of four expert Formula Kite riders’ speed tests were analyzed, compared, and discussed in relation to their measured Velocity Made Good. Results of the qualitative analyses provide original insight into the fine technical adaptations of the riders in their pursuit of performance. Furthermore, the comparison between the evaluated performance using speed measurements and the perceived performance assessed by the qualitative analysis shows interindividual differences as well as inconsistencies between the two modes of analysis. Based on these results, the present study opens practical perspectives for improving training practices, consisting in “calibrating” the sailors’ perceived performance with measured performance.

Exploring the Interplay Between Humans and Sports Equipment in the Quest for Performance

“…Furthermore, the studies of Terrien et al (2020Terrien et al ( , 2022Terrien et al ( , 2023aTerrien et al ( , 2023b in sailing have shown that the behavior of sports equipment affects the interplay between athletes and their equipment. Indeed, some sports equipment exhibits behaviors that are not directly controlled by the athletes.…”

“…This contrasts with the movements of a backpack, which stop if the runner stops moving, or the movement of a golf club, which directly depends on the forces applied by the golfer. The studies of Terrien et al (2020Terrien et al ( , 20222023a, 2023b were conducted within the course-of-experience framework (Poizat et al, 2022;Terrien et al, 2023;Theureau, 2006) with elite sailors. The aim of this research was primarily to study the interplay between humans, sports equipment, and the environment by analyzing sailors' intentions, expectations, knowledge, perceptions, and actions, in relation to the equipment's movements.…”

“…The results of these studies contain several elements that contribute to the understanding of the interplay between humans and sports equipment. For instance, the studies of Terrien et al (2023b) and Terrien et al (2023) in Formula Kite and windsurfing reveal that the sailors are highly sensitive to the transmission of power between sail, body, and board. These studies suggest that the riders' assessment of performance partly depends on these perceptions of balance.…”

“…These studies suggest that the riders' assessment of performance partly depends on these perceptions of balance. As a case in point, in Formula Kite (Terrien et al, 2023b), when everything is going well, riders perceive the pull of the kite in the direction they want to go. This sensitivity to transmission balance was also identified in windsurfing, where riders express the sensation of feeling the sail "sucking forward" that they associate with episodes of optimal performance (Terrien et al, 2023).…”

“…Moreover, these permanent perceptions of the equipment appear to provide relevant information to the sailor in self-assessing their performance. The studies on double-handed foiling catamarans (Terrien et al, 2020(Terrien et al, , 2022 suggest that from each sailor's perspective the boat can be considered as a partner that sometimes responds to the sailor's action but at other times needs them to accompany it in its movements. That is, reaching optimal performance on double-handed foiling catamarans involves both controlling the boat and accepting to be controlled by its movements.…”