## 5 Conclusions  
This investigation examined three interrelated hypotheses regarding the integration of balance training and wearable technology for improving the performance of junior alpine skiers. Firstly, the findings indicate that targeted balance training yields significant improvements in several balance metrics and in skiing technique, supporting the notion that balance is an important determinant of athletic performance in alpine skiing. Nevertheless, the extent of these improvements may vary depending on an individual's baseline skills, training duration, and other contextual factors. The second hypothesis, which proposed that wearable technology would provide actionable insights to complement traditional methods, is largely substantiated. In particular, the utilization of advanced monitoring systems facilitated biomechanical assessments and real-time feedback, enabling data-driven refinements to specific methodologies. The third hypothesis, concerning the impact of balance training on explosive force production, is only partially confirmed. Although statistically significant improvements in the Counter-Movement Jump (CM)) performance were observed (F = 6.08; \(p\) = 0.02), suggesting a possible link between neuromuscular control and balance interventions, not all the analyzed variables demonstrated significant changes. This outcome indicates that, while balance training may enhance lower-limb power to some extent, other considerations--such as training volume or individual variation--can influence explosive force results. The statistically significant enhancements in the Ski IQ (F = 13.239; \(p\) = 0.001; \(\eta^{2}\) = 0.321), balance (F = 4.800; \(p\) = 0.037), and pressure metrics (F = 8.084; \(p\) = 0.08) within the experimental group underscore the efficacy of the implemented balance training protocol. These findings align with some existing studies, but contrast with those reporting limited connections between balance interventions and performance. However, given the mixed findings across studies and the individualized responses observed, further investigations are needed to strengthen these results, identify the optimal balance training protocols across various age groups and skill levels, and clarify whether additional outcomes, such as injury prevention, can be directly attributed to balance interventions. Such research will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of balance's role in alpine skiing, facilitating more tailored and effective training programs. Conceptualization, A.Z. and E.F.G. ; methodology, M.-N.O. and D.M. ; software, D.M. and V.T.G. ; validation, V.T.G. and R.-M.P. ; formal analysis, R.-M.P. and C.P. ; investigation, C.P. and E.F.G. ; resources, E.F.G. and S.S.; data curation, S.S. and A.Z. ; writing--original draft preparation, A.Z. and O.M-N.; writing--review and editing, M.-N.O. and D.M. ; visualization, D.M. and V.T.G. ; supervision, V.T.G. and R.-M.P. ; project administration, R.-M.P. and C.P. ; funding acquisition, M.-N.O. and S.S. All authors have made equal contributions, with the specification that this study is a part of one study from the doctoral thesis of the first author, [PERSON] All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. The APC was funded by University '1 Decembrie 1918', Alba Iulia, Romania. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (Ethics Committee) of Babes-Bolyai University (protocol code 12.1491, approved on 21 September 2022, following a request registered under number 316 on 8 September 2022). Informed Consent Statement: Informed consent was obtained from the parents of the participants before inclusion in this study. They were provided with an information and consent sheet detailing this study's objectives, testing procedures, measurements, training protocol, and potential risks associated with participation. It was also clearly communicated that participation was voluntary and that they could choose to withdraw from this study at any time.