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 250 kilometres per hour (155 mph).
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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. It was a demonstration sport at the Albertville 1992 Winter Olympics in the Les Arcs two-kilometer (1.2 mi) course.
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.
Equipment
As of 2016, the world record for skiing was 254.958 kilometers per hour (158.424 mph), set by Ivan Origone. 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.
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.
Official world records
The following records were set in 2016 under FSV (France Ski de Vitesse) rules at Vars, France on March 26, 2016: