The highest speeds are reached in speed skiing or speed skiing, created for this purpose, since it consists of a completely straight descent on slopes with up to 120% slope and accumulated unevenness of up to half a kilometer. Skiers experience accelerations from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.4 seconds, similar to those of a Formula 1, and exceed 200 km / h. In fact, it is considered the fastest non-motorized sport.
The world record is held by the Italian Simone Origone, who in 2015 registered a speed of 252.632 km / h on the Vars track, in the French Alps. Origone, 37, had already been a record holder since 2006, the year in which he first surpassed the 250 km / h (251.40 km / h) barrier. One of the skiers who threaten his throne is the British based in Spain Jan Farrell, 33, champion of the World Cup of Speed Skiing in 2014; his personal best is 231.66 km / h (2015).
These athletes have great physical and psychological preparation (controlling fear is key), and they work on the aerodynamic position. They wear suits made of a special compound, carry 2.40-meter skis without bridge, zeta-shaped poles and a helmet with a fixed inner part and an aerodynamic outer part. They also use a back protector to slide over it in the event of a fall.
Photo: British Jan Farrell, who lives in Spain, has surpassed 230 km / h sliding on the snow, and is working to pass 250.
