AnrchistAthlete

Anarchist Athlete Sports Photography is run by a fanatical surfer, skater, snowboarder and photographer named Jason Harding. By trade, Jason is a sport scientist (B.ExSc Hons) who is currently affiliated with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) and Griffith University’s Centre for Wireless Monitoring and Applications (GU) however, he has continually strived to include the more stylitic aspects of sport in the somewhat bland arena of scientific publication.

Jason is a Doctor of Philosophy candidate who has focussed his research on enhancing the competitive performance of Australia’s elite-level snowboard athletes. He has undertaken this task using the following approach; 1. A video based analysis of the key performance variables associated with success in elite half-pipe snowboard competition and 2. The subsequent development of an automated micro-technology feedback system enabling calculation of objective information associated with air-time (AT) and degree of rotation (DR) achieved during half-pipe snowboarding. This process has lead to a sport specific concept with an inherent capacity to assist both the current subjective training and competition judging protocols used in elite-level surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding. This research won first place in the “Competitive Sports Category in the ISPO Innovation Challenge” in 2008.

Intervention in sport however, whether focussed on enhancing athlete performance or revolutionising training and judging protocols via technological innovation, can only ever be successful if those individuals heavily involved in the sporting discipline believe it to be worthwhile and in line with their underlying ideology. As such, Jason also undertakes careful and regular assessment of the potential sociological impact and practice community perception to the integration of automated objectivity into elite-level snowboarding. It is this more sociological focus that has produced these photographs.

These photographs allow the viewer an up close and personal look at all facets of elite-level athletic lifestyles; from rigourous and routine training and the highs and lows of competition to the more non-conformist and anarchistic escapades that occur away from the public comeptition scence.