X-Factor Campaign
Expertise + Experimentation + Expansion + Experience = Excellence
ASI's X Factor initiative is an all-in-one resource available to any sports body or individual wanting to achieve at the highest level. It provides both the technical and analytical support to turn the dream of success into reality.
The key partners in the X Factor campaign are the ASI and the University of Otago's Human Performance Centre, making it a world class combination of expertise, resources and facilities. Added to this is all the accessible knowledge and technology from the university's schools of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Medicine and the departments of Human Nutrition, Clothing and Textiles and the Injury Prevention Unit.
A good example of the international esteem the Human Performance Centre has gained was several members of the US swim team – including triple gold medalist Michael Phelps – training in Dunedin prior to the Athens Olympics as part of Speedo's swim wear testing programme. The draw card was the centre's flume.
The ASI’s contribution includes, elite sporting information, high performance programme planning, access to useful networks, plus cumulative, applied knowledge – the result of our work with over 25 codes and disciplines on their performance programmes.
The Elite MotorSport Academy is a good example of an X Factor programme. That concept and others are currently on offer to national and international sports organisations.
The X Factor initiative creates opportunities for consultation, research and development not available from any other New Zealand source. The connection with high performance sport through the Academy, with the university as the research, consultancy and advisory unit, we are able to offer athletes, coaches, sports bodies and commerce the X Factor.
Current X Factor projects
Design of a driver simulator and adaptation of the Wombat decision-making device for the MotorSport Academy.
Swim kick timing and coordination assessment in the flume.
Pilot study of the energy requirements for high performance soccer referees, using GPS alongside both video and expert analysis.
Multi-disciplinary study of the energy needs for 100+ exercise, using data from the Southern Traverse.
A Comprehensive study evaluating the incidence of stress fractures in high performance triathletes.