Picture credits: Marc Gürber
Please meet today Marc Gürber who is thrilled to share his experience with you. His project is hosted by the Universität Bern.
Could you describe your BRIDGE Proof of Concept project in a few words?
In freeski and snowboard freestyle, athletes perform their tricks on very large jumps. The correct flight distance is crucial for landing in the correct zone when jumping. Landing outside this zone can lead to very serious injuries. The skill of estimating and controlling flight distance describes the ability to predict the resulting flight distance based on the current environmental conditions (wind, snow, visibility) and to control it accordingly. Like pilot training on a flight simulator, the aim is to train in a virtual simulation and transfer skills to a real-life situation. My BRIDGE Proof of Concept project involves the development and scientific evaluation of a virtual reality training application.
What was your motivation to apply to BRIDGE Proof of Concept?
Did the special call play a role in your decision to submit a BRIDGE Proof of Concept project?
There’s no denying that freeski and snowboard freestyle are distinctively niche areas. They often don’t receive the same level of attention as sectors such as medicine or healthcare. However, my timing was good, as I had just handed in my master’s thesis. Fortunately, a large part of it applied to the BRIDGE Proof of Concept proposal.