Speed skiing is an adventurous, competitive skiing sport where participants wear skin-tight suits and specially designed aerodynamic helmets to ski on a steep straight track.
Speed skiing, as the name defines is a sport of speed while skiing downhill with the maximum speed. Usually, a speed skier has to exceed approximately 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph) speed. In major competitions, the skiers try to break the existing records with their best speed.
Objective
The prime aim of speed skiing is to finish the race by skiing with the maximum speed. While doing this, the participants have to ensure that their speed should remain unbeatable than others.
The skiers have to wear foam fairings that are denser on the lower legs along with specially designed aerodynamic helmets.
The ski suits worn by the participants provide maximum protection during any crash and are made from air-tight latex. These suits reduce wind resistance.
History of Speed Skiing
Speed skiing is believed to date back in 1898 when Tommy Todd completed his skiing at 87 miles per hour, i.e. 140 km/h in California.
In 1930, for an advertisement stunt in St. Moritz, Switz; the sport of speed skiing was filmed.
In 1932, the official records had an entry of 89 miles per hour, i.e. 143 km/h skiing, speed by Leo Gasperi. In 1978, the record was broken by completing the skiing at the rate of 200.22 km/h at Portillo, Chile, by Steve McKinney which made him the first skier with a record of surpassing the speed limit of 200 km/h.
During the 1992 Winter Olympics, speed skiing was seen as a demonstration sport at Albertville. Speed skiing was once considered as a male-dominated sport, but women started participating in the early 1960s.
In 1963, the record of women's team stood up to 89 miles, i.e. 143 km per hour, which was approximately 19 miles per hour (30 km) slower than the men's record. By 1980s, the speed of skiing increased in the women's event up to 125 miles per hour.
At the same time, the men's event increased the speed limit up to 150 miles per hour, i.e. 241 km per hour, which was later attained the women's team.
