ABSTRACT
The high-performance coaching work discussed in this chapter relates specifically to the Olympic sport of Ski Cross. Integral to the unique coach-athlete environment in this study and a central component of participant data sources, were three athletes of differing ages, genders, sporting experience and performance levels. Five key findings emerged from the content analysis of the data: For the primary purpose of this paper, only the first two findings. The aim of presenting the information in this way is to give 'voice' to the participant in this study. It was particularly interesting given that the external expectations of the high-performance sporting environment were very much acknowledged as being present by athletes and were largely considered appropriate given the context in which they were operating. Related elements of scarce resource allocations, injury and associated rehabilitation issues, and medal expectations were all important considerations within the specific sporting context examined in this chapter.
