Speed skiing is a blend of highly technical athletic skills and sophisticated equipment. When the skier approaches 120 mph, aerodynamics become critical since air friction increases exponentially while the speed increases linearly. Accordingly, top competitors spend a great deal of time refining the aerodynamics of their equipment and tuck position. The speed skier is both the pilot and the aircraft. Many hours of wind tunnel testing and design modification are spent fine tuning each individual racer's equipment and body position.
Every suit is custom tailored and the helmets are made with a perfect mold for each athlete's head.
Bindings are cranked up to a DIN north of 20 and still the binding releases in milliseconds in the event of a fall at 120mph. Track condition is critical for high-speed runs. When the track is buffed, a run of 140 mph might seem easy. However, when the track is in bad shape, the same run could give you nightmares. Although most tracks are prepared by machine, mother nature has a way of playing games with even the best of preparations.