INTRODUCTION: Injury rates in high-performance snowsports, such as alpine and freestyle skiing and snowboarding, are known to be high. 1 Across different sports, sport-specific neuromuscular warm-up programs have been shown to be effective in preventing injury. 2,3 The aim of this study was to explore current practices, challenges and opportunities related to warm-up and activation in snowsports. METHODS: Qualitative study. Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 expert stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, sports physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, and sports psychologists from different snowsport disciplines. The interviews were transcribed word for word and analysed according to the principles of grounded theory. 4 Through coding, the interview statements were grouped into themes from which ultimately the main theories were derived. RESULTS: All participants reported using warm-up and activation (W&A) as a measure to get physically and mentally ready for subsequent on-snow training and competition. Readiness has been described as a prerequisite for peak performance and injury risk reduction. When planning W&A, participants reported considering several factors: (1) the demands of the sport discipline; (2) the occurring injury mechanisms; (3) the nature of subsequent training or competition; (4) the needs and possibilities of the athletes; and (5) environmental characteristics. Getting into the routine of W&A was described as an individual learning process that needed time and often also included sustaining injuries. Group W&A that target long-term conditioning and movement skill rehearsal were described as measures to initiate this learning process in youth athletes. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: To recognise the importance of W&A and improve its application at all age and performance levels, athletes, coaches and competition organisers should have a thorough understanding of sport-specific demands and the concept of readiness. The specifics of W&A depend on several factors that need to be further explored to inform meaningful snowsport-specific W&A recommendations.
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