Downhill Skiing

One of the popular skiing disciplines is downhill skiing. Downhill skiing is also called alpine skiing. The sport requires a very high level of fitness from participants as they can reach speeds of around one hundred and thirty kilometers per hour. The fast speeds reached by participants make the sport very enjoyable to watch.

A downhill skiing course commences on a leveled out part of a mountain. The racers begin at the ramp and make their way down the mountain. The course is generally sealed off with clear markers and the public can watch the race from beyond these markers. The course is always iced and water or salt is added to optimize conditions for the participants. By making sure that the course is always icy, greater speeds can also be achieved, making the race a good show for many people. Racers who participate in downhill skiing must pass through cones that are laid out throughout the course. These markers are always the same color in downhill skiing. In addition to this the cones are quite far apart even though two consecutive cones are always in sight of each other. Courses do not change and participants are generally extremely familiar with the courses. A downhill skiing course is generally comprised of high speed sections combined with sharp turns and long jumps. This tests all the participants while giving the crowd a good show.

People who participate in downhill skiing have different equipment to meet the demands of the course. Skis are longer in order to provide the racer more stability at high speeds. Ski tips are also aerodynamically designed to decrease air resistance. In addition to this racers must wear a helmet which is also aerodynamically designed to improve airflow. All racers wear figure hugging suits in order to minimize drag. Racers inspect the course multiple times before the actual race and discuss with their trainers and other racers the best line to take while racing down the hill. Training is extremely important and many downhill skiing racers workout daily in order to be physically prepared for the race. While racing, participants have to maintain aerodynamic postures in order to keep their speed up.

Races are usually between one and two and a half minutes. This is extremely fast and winners can win by margins as small as hundredths of a second. This makes the race extremely risky as all participants push their limits to achieve the fastest possible time.