ZERO RISK DOES NOT EXIST: New views on injury prevention in competitive Alpine Skiing

Competitive alpine skiing is a high-injury risk sport with unique features and high-speed races. Within this sport, injuries are persistent and severe, and rates are high. According to the current research, the available literature has yet to regard injuries as complex and multifactorial phenomena. As a result, effective preventive strategies for competitive alpine skiing still need to be improved. Competitive alpine skiing sports injury prevention research faces three main challenges: research, context and practice gaps. To bridge the current gap concerning the identified gaps, the complexity and multifactorial nature of injuries, their prevention and context must be considered to better understand the competitive alpine skiing setting. Ultimately, this would lead to a reduction in the risk of injury through more context-driven prevention measures. This thesis aims to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of sports injury prevention within competitive alpine skiing to further assist in developing and implementing effective injury prevention measures. This thesis combines qualitative and quantitative research methods. It uses various study designs to capture a comprehensive picture within the competitive alpine skiing context to improve the health and safety of competitive alpine skiers By integrating expertise in research, context and practice, this thesis contributes to improving the understanding of sports injury prevention in competitive alpine skiing to improve the health and safety of competitive alpine skiers. The main goal within this performance-driven environment is performing at their best and winning, where performance enhancement and health protection are central. To do so, risk management, testing and monitoring practices, and training are stakeholders’ approaches. Risk management is an injury prevention approach that includes assessing, managing, and sometimes accepting risks. Diverse contextual factors and their interactions influence, guide and modulate these complex and dynamic processes. Such processes are embedded within the risk management framework developed for and by stakeholders, a unique approach towards a positive safety culture that promotes a way of thinking and decision-making towards a safer environment for alpine skiers while maintaining their sports performance. This thesis may serve as the first step towards more and better approaches to risk management and injury prevention, providing a clear route to improve athletes’ health and safety in competitive alpine.