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Speed skiing

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World Cup speed skiing

Speed skiing is the sport of skiing downhill in a straight line at as high a speed as possible, as timed over a fixed stretch of ski slope. There are two types of contest: breaking an existing speed record or having the fastest run at a given competition. Speed skiers regularly exceed 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph)

History

Speed skiing dates from 1898 with a run by Californian, Tommy Todd, reported at 87 miles per hour (140 km/h). Official records began with a 1932 89-mile-per-hour (143 km/h) run by Leo Gasperi. In 1978 at Portillo, Chile, Steve McKinney's record-breaking run of 200.222 km/h (124.137 mph)[1] made him the first to break the 200 km/h barrier.[2] It was a demonstration sport at the Albertville 1992 Winter Olympics in the Les Arcs speed skiing course, but was deemed too dangerous after several recorded deaths.[3][4]

Description

Speed skiing is practiced on steep, specially designed courses one kilometer (0.62 mi) long. There are approximately thirty of these courses worldwide, many of them at high altitudes to minimize air resistance. The first 300 or 400 m (980 or 1,310 ft) of the course (the launching area) is used to gain speed, the top speed is measured in the next 100 m (330 ft) (the timing zone) and the last 500 m (1,600 ft) (the run-out area) is used for slowing down and coming to a stop. The start point in FIS races is chosen so that, in theory, skiers should not exceed 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph), hence competition is aimed at winning a particular event, not breaking world speed records. At Pro races, there is no maximum speed and the speed attained is determined by conditions and safety.[3]

In theory, speeds could continue to increase by using even longer and steeper slopes; this eventually changes speed skiing into something closer to skydiving except with skis rather than a parachute. Since a slight bump or gentle turn can easily prove fatal at such speeds, there is little appetite for this.[5]

Equipment

Speed skiers wear dense foam fairings on their lower legs and aerodynamic helmets to increase streamlining. Their ski suits are made from air-tight latex or have a polyurethane coating to reduce wind resistance, with only a minimal (but mandatory) back protector to give some protection in the case of a crash.[3]

The special skis used must be 240 centimeters (94 in) long and at most 10 cm (3.9 in) wide with a maximum weight of 15 kg (33 lb) for the pair. Ski boots are attached to the skis by bindings. The ski poles are bent to shape around the body, and must be a minimum of 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long.[3]

Official world records

The following records were set in 2016 under FSV (France Ski de Vitesse) rules at Vars, France on March 26, 2016:[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20072676,00.html
  2. ^ "Video". CNN. February 7, 1983.
  3. ^ a b c d Lipsyte, Robert (2009). Vizard, Frank (ed.). Why a Curveball Curves: The Incredible Science of Sports. Popular mechanics. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 224. ISBN 9781588167941.
  4. ^ Usborne, Simon (2018-02-09). "Speed skiing: too fast for the Olympics". Financial Times. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  5. ^ Munroe, Randall (2019). how to: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems. New York: Penguin. p. 150. ISBN 9780525537090.
  6. ^ Editors (March 23, 2016). "Weltrekorde in italienischer Hand". ORF.Sport (in German). Vienna: Österreichischer Rundfunk. Retrieved 2017-03-03. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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