SHAG 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 I was flicking through the channels last night and came to one channel BBC World I think it was and they had this program on about "speed skiing". It was showing you these absolute nutters who find a very steep mountain, then build an extra run at the top that is steeper still - and ski down the thing, with speeds of up to 150mph (in 15 seconds)! Nuts they were, showed you one guy wiping out and it looked uncomfortable to say the least! Just did a search and found this, check out the gear they use http://www.speedski.com/ Link to post Share on other sites
SHAG 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Author Share Posted April 1, 2005 Check out the vid http://www.speedski.com/movies/HarryEgger.mpg Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 We had a little discussion about this a bit ago Some SJers have even competed Do a little search and bump it to the top again Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 Ive done it and it is a blast. You cant just go off of the top though. during the day every skier must start from the bottom and progress to the top. a speed wobble, bad stop or turning on the course, results in you not being able to progress to the higher starts. It takes a good 5 to 6 runs to get to the top gate. it makes you feel more comfortable with the course. Sun Peaks in Canada has an event every year and it is quite fun. Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 Wiping out must not be pleasant though, especially when the friction on the snow causes your suit to melt into your skin. ouch! Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 248 km/h ?!! Holly s.... , last I checked these guys were doing slightly over 200. It is getting close to the take-off speed of an airliner I guess. Amazing. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 best that ive done was 143.5kms in a regular ski wear. I couldnt be bothered to buy all the gear. plus sun peaks has 3 divisions. full on spee ski gear, regular race gear, then regular ski wear. ski length is 210 min for everyone Link to post Share on other sites
millipee 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 Did you wear all that gear Fattwins? Looks incredible Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 no a no fear long sleeve shit and steeptech pants and a helmut. the noise that people make going at that speed is loud as. if you wear regular ski pants the noise is so loud. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 I saw that it looked wild - eps when he went in the wind tunnel to experience 150mph, well he only got up to 130 before giving up. I'd like to see some of this in action. Standing well back of course. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 its scary but not as hard as it seems. If you do loose control you will crash. a mate fell on his butt at 160 and his whole bum went blue Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 Did his bones survive? Link to post Share on other sites
guzzlers-baps 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 We watched that as well - they were going FAST. Love the helmets - are they available to buy anywhere Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 the helmut dont do anything in fact most of them wont pass a govt. saftey test cause there is almost no crash padding in them. bones fine but he couldve used a Japanese squawlet toilet for a week and a half Link to post Share on other sites
marnix 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 In Les Arcs you can take a course. you get the gear etc. According to those guys you should be able to reach 130kmh if you are a decent skier. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 go to sun peaks and you dont need a course. Link to post Share on other sites
marnix 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 Quote: Originally posted by SerreChe: 248 km/h ?!! Holly s.... , That is way old. In 2002 Philippe Goitschel broke the record and the 250kmh barrier. Current Men's Speed Ski World Record = 250.790 km/h = 155.834 mph by Philippe Goitschel Link to post Share on other sites
marnix 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 Not everyone will have 210s or longer in their garage waiting to be taken out for some fun. Link to post Share on other sites
marnix 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 A friend of mine did the course and set his personal best at 189kmh. Link to post Share on other sites
marnix 0 Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 FT had a look at some recent results at Sun Peaks. Doing 143 with speedskiing gear is good. Doing regular production skis and no suit is very impressive. Link to post Share on other sites
jared 0 Posted April 2, 2005 Share Posted April 2, 2005 A while ago I decided ski jumping was worth a try and investigated some courses but I think I would rather spend the money on a summer camp in the pipe/park. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted April 2, 2005 Share Posted April 2, 2005 every year the course is fast or slow. my year the top guys were running 173kms. It was a big snow year so the course was smoooooth as. the next year 165 was the max. The course is what decides the speed. Those pipe camps are expensive man and full of kids. Alot of money to get a pipe and not much coaching. Link to post Share on other sites
KlingKlang 1 Posted April 2, 2005 Share Posted April 2, 2005 I presume the courses are pretty much straight lines there? Anyone got any good vid of one of these dudes doing their stuff, sounds incredible. Link to post Share on other sites
I'm Sexy 0 Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 I had never heard about it before. Do they have it in Japan? Link to post Share on other sites
js 0 Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 I was following Michael Milton's rise through the ranks - he's in the Para-Olympics: 'He became the world’s fastest skier on one leg in April 2003, breaking a 16-year-old world record when he clocked 193.13km/hr. Earlier this year [2004] he backed it up, breaking that record three times in two days, finally settling on 198.68km/hr. He will have another crack at that magical 200km/hr mark in France in April 2005.' 200km/hr on one leg?! I have serious anxiety driving that fast! Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts