Speed skiing

Speed ​​skiing, often referred to by the English term Speed ​​Skiing, is an extreme sport, a specially prepared runway exit at the athletes on skis down and try going to achieve the highest possible speeds.

History

The first speed skiing competitions have been conducted in the 30s of the 20th century. The Austrian Gustav Lantschner then drove the first official record of 105 km / h in St. Moritz. A year later, Leo Gasperl improved the record 136.6 km / h 1978 breaks Steve Mc Kinney (USA) 200-km/h-Marke in Chile.

The 1980s belonged to an Austrian: speed skiing legend Franz Weber was six times world champion between 1980 and 1985 and improved the world record four times. 1999 continued the Tyrolean Harry Egger with 248.1 km / h again a record that had stock for three years. Philippe Goitschel broke through the first speed skier the 250-km/h-Marke. The currently valid world record of 252,454 km / h set Origone Simone (ITA ) on March 31, 2014 in Vars on.

Speed ​​Skiing is operated solely as a competitive sport and is regulated as such by the International Ski Federation (FIS ). Also, the professional association ( France Ski de Vitesse ) regularly organizes competitions.

Speed ​​skiing was a demonstration sport at the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville. Winner was Michel Accountants ( FRA) 229.3 km / h The competition was overshadowed by a fatal accident in the Swiss racing driver Nicolas Bochatay. The accident, however, did not happen at the speed ski track, but on a public ski slope, where he collided with a snow cat. Shortly thereafter presented the FIS a speed limit at 200 km / h for FIS races on.

Equipment

The athletes wear a tight-fitting racing suit made ​​of coated polypropylene, an aerodynamically shaped helmet and the body appropriately shaped poles. At the ski boots are additionally mounted spoiler. The skis have a extra width compared with normal skis and are 2.25 to 2.40 meters long. The optimal posture during shutdown is previously developed in the wind tunnel; they determined ( for given external conditions ) is crucial that speed reaches a driver.

Competitions and slopes

The tracks are up to a kilometer long and have a high gradient on - the steepest slopes have at the start of a gradient up to 112 % (48 degrees). The difference in altitude between the start and measuring distance is between 200 and 500 meters. The athlete takes on the first 300-400 meters of distance on speed, which is measured on the following 100 meter long section ( the timing zone). Thus, the sporting comparison is secured. The fastest athlete wins the competition. The last 200-600 meters of the course serve as a braking zone. At FIS events the race courses are designed so that speeds of 200 km / h are not exceeded (since 2009, the FIS, in exceptional cases, a permit for speeds over 200 km / h ) grant. A predetermined travel path through gates there is the speed skiing not, the slope is traversed in the fall line. For some record attempts the runners start of an artificial ramp to extend the start. There are about 50 homologated Speedskistrecken world. The fastest are in Les Arcs ( FRA ), Vars (FRA) and Verbier ( SUI). Today's world records in speed skiing are at 252.454 km / h for men and 242.6 km / h for women.

FIS World Cup

The Speed ​​Ski World Cup is one of the International Ski Federation ( FIS ) be transmitted international competition in speed skiing. The World Cup has been held since 1989 every year from January to April. The races take place in Europe and North America.

Classes

There are three classes: Speed ​​1 (S1, classical or professional class), Speed ​​Downhill (SDH, also production or exit class) and Speed ​​Downhill Junior ( Junior SDH ). In the Speed ​​Class 1 is driven with special helmet, spoilers, special suit and with 240 cm skis and downhill in the class is run with normal exit equipment. In the Junior class athletes can participate 15 to 20 years. The distribution of points in all classes the same as in the Alpine World Cup: 100 points for the winner, 80, 60, 50, 45, 40, 36, 32, 29, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 15, 14 etc.

Mode

The athletes compete on specially prepared slopes against each other. In the World Cup, there is no track inspection as in the alpine competitions, but a free training. The race management selects for the free training from the starting point so that 160 km / h can not be exceeded. The starting point was moved to each run up to significantly increase the speed.

The first races are used for qualification. The slowest driver eliminated. There is also a so-called technical Cut, retire at the unsafe driver. After the race or qualifying races the semi-finals and finals to follow. It is started in reverse starting order, so the fastest starts last. In the finale is driven from the highest starting point to achieve the fastest speed.

World Cup and Crystal

In the Speed ​​Skiing World Cup is there for the best lady and best Lord a small crystal ball, those which are known from the Alpine Ski World Cup. In theory, the Speed ​​Skiing World Cup will be won by a SDH driver. In practice, this is unlikely, since the material of an SDH driver is much slower than in the S1 class. At the end of the season, the FIS publishes a speed skiing overall World Cup list for the S1 class and a secondary list for the SDH categories. For the best SDH driver there for the men to Häkkinen Cup and the ladies of the Taplin Cup.