Ski de vitesse - Speed Skiing history

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The KL or Kilometer launched

It's a race of pure speed on a slope in a straight line in which the skier rushes to reach the highest speed.

In the 19th century, gold miners were the first American skiers speed downhill ski slopes in a race against time. The first unofficial record belongs to Tommy Todd, who in 1870 reached a speed of 150 mph on a track in California. The first certified record belonged to Italian LeoGasperi, which was established in 1931 in the Swiss resort of St. Moritz with a speed of 136.600 kilometers per hour Shortly after, the Italians were organizing an annual event, the 'Kilometro lanciato' on a track a mile across the glacier Breithorn Kl.Matterhorn. The world championships are held every two years since 1995. Past winners sacred in 2005: Tracy Sachs U.S. women and Simone Origone ITA men.

Speed skiing was a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games in Albertville in 1992 Tracking down the bows. Won among men by the French Michael Prüfer by spraying the world record in 229, 99 km / h in women with Finland's Tarja Mula at 219.245 kilometers per hour

The competition is open to skiers who have already reached a speed of 180 km / h for men and 170 km / h for women.

-- the runway length is 1 200 meters

-- area momentum of the track is 450 meters

-- the timing zone is 100 meters

-- the area of deceleration and braking is 850 meters

-- the average slope is 52% (from 76% to 45%)

-- the track is devoid of bumps.

Among the 32 licensed tracks Les Arcs, Vars and La Plagne FRA, SUI Verbier, Cervinia ITA, Salla FIN, Sun Peaks Whistler / Blackcomb CAN, Timberline and Mount Hood USA.

Do you know that the skier moving at 69.6 meters per second and covers 100 meters in 1.43 seconds! Recognizable by their gear aerodynamics, they Skis are used very long and wide to reach speeds around 240 km / h.

The record in speed skiing

-- KL Men: 251.40 km / h by Origone Simone ITA 2006

-- KL Women: 242.590 km / h by Sanna Tidstrand SUE 2006

-- Monoski : 212.26 km / h by Xavier Cousseau FRA in 2006.

-- Legged : 213.65 km / h by Mickaël Milton FSU in 2006.

-- Snowboard : 201.907 km / h by Darren Powell AUS in 2002.

The Stars of KL

Philippe Billy (2-10-65) FRA. Premier homme à avoir dépassé les 230 km/h en kilomètre lancé, à Vars en 1996. It was then increased to 243.902 kilometers.

Harry Egger (2-11-65) TUE. World champion speed skiing in 1994 and Europe in 1998. World record in 1999 at 248.105 kilometers per hour In April 2002, he put it to 248.28 km / h in Lech, Austria.

Goitschel Philippe (13-1-62) FRA. Nephew Marielle and Christelle. Olympic silver medalist in 1992 world champion in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2002. It is the first man to exceed 250 kph in skiing: 250.700 km / h achieved at Les Arcs in April 2002.

Jeffrey Hamilton (22-11-66) USA. Three times world champion in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Origone Simone ITA. The fastest man on skis, achieving 251.40 km / h on the track of Arcs in April 2006. Winner of the World Cup in 2004 and 2006 world champion in 2005. His younger brother, Ivan finished 3rd in the World Cup in 2006 by achieving 250.70 km / h equaling the record set by Philippe Goitschel in 2002.

Prüfer Michael (6-11-59) FRA. Olympic Champion in 1992 (demonstration sport) by pulverizing the world record of 229.99 kilometers per hour

Viitassari Jukka FIN. FIS World Champion in 2001 and 2003. In 2003, his sister Jaara won the title in women.
Women

Dubouchet Karinne (1-1-71) FRA. World record holder kilometer launched from 2002 to 2006 with 242.260 kilometers per hour Seven times world champion between 1996 and 2002.

Mulari Tarja (born 1965) END. 1992 Olympic champion and former world record holder (219.245 km / h in 1992).

Sanna Tidstrand SUE. Record holder of KL since April 2006 to 242.59 km / h achieved in Les Arcs. World champion in 2005 and 2006.