An unusual testing setup in the Mühlviertel region of Upper Austria is supporting research into the ideal carving turn. Salzburg Research validated a newly developed sensor setup on a manure heap, paving the way for accurate measurements to be taken directly on the ski slope.

The search for the perfect carving turn doesn’t only take place in laboratories or on ski slopes. Researchers from Salzburg Research, the University of Salzburg, and Atomic Austria conducted their preliminary research in an unusual location: a farmyard manure heap in the Mühlviertel region. There, they set up a centrifugal device specially developed to accurately simulate the realistic carving and sliding movements of skis.

The study focuses on the angle of attack. This is the angle between the ski’s orientation and its actual direction of movement. If this angle becomes too large, the ski will slip sideways, which is a key factor affecting control, speed, and safety.

Sensor fusion for precise angle detection

Complex video analysis has been replaced by a new sensor-based system:

• Inertial measurement units (IMUs) record the ski orientation,
• an RTK-GNSS system provides highly accurate speed data.

This combination of data enables the precise determination of the angle of attack to be made directly in the field, i.e., while skiing.

However, before hitting the slopes, the setup had to be tested in a controlled environment. The centrifugal device from Wöss Ladenbau GmbH enabled precise control of movements and reliable repeatability. This enabled both near-perfect carving (θ ≈ 0°) and heavy skidding (θ > 20°) to be simulated, as well as subtle angle changes in the range of 1° to 1.5° to be analyzed. Due to space limitations, a farmyard in the Mühlviertel region was selected as the location for the centrifugal device.

From the manure heap to the snow

Following successful validation, field tests were conducted on the ski slope. The test subject wore a backpack containing a laptop that was directly connected to the GNSS sensor. The data collected revealed clear patterns for various skiing techniques, ranging from parallel skiing to carving and transitional movements.

Potential for sports, safety, and material development

The results have a wide range of applications. For example, reliable measurement of the angle of attack could help to optimize ski equipment for athletes’ needs or provide recreational athletes with better safety and comfort advice.

“This technology could be used not only in elite sports but also in product development and for selecting the ideal skis for recreational athletes,” emphasizes Dr. Christoph Thorwartl of Salzburg Research.

Recognition for innovative research

The research project was awarded second place in the Young Investigator category at the 10th International Congress on Science and Skiing in Val di Fiemme (2025), which was a significant achievement for the project team.

The research work was carried out as part of the research project “DiMo-NEXT—Next Level of Digital Motion in Sports, Fitness, and Well-being,” funded as part of the “COMET—Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies” program by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure (BMIMI); the Austrian Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, and Tourism (BMWET); the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG); and the federal states of Salzburg, Tyrol, and Upper Austria.

More information:

• Press release: Wie ein Misthaufen zur optimalen Skitechnik beiträgt
• News article on the Young Investigator Award: Young Investigator Award: Innovative Ski Research Awarded