After five years of development, a new airbag system has been approved for World Cup Races by the International Ski Federation (FIS).
The system is an add-on to racers’ existing back protectors and uses small gas cylinder. It is designed to inflate when skiers lose control and are about to crash. Tests over the years have aimed to ensure the system works when it needs to, but also avoids ‘false positives’ – inflating when not needed.
The system, which has already been used in training in the autumn and by sponsored athletes in races, is scheduled to debut for women at the women’s races at Bad Kleinkirchheim and for men at the Launerhorn classic in Wengen is specifically designed for high speed races. The Lauberhorrn is the longest and fastest race on the World Cup circuit and in 2013 French skier Johan Clarey became the first to break the 100mph speed record whilst competing.
Although not mandatory the FIS hopes that all World Cup racers will use it and that the air bags will also be increasingly used in lower level competitions also.
It has been developed by the Italian company Dainese and a similar air bag system has been used in motorcycle racing since 2009.
”There will continue to be injuries but we want to try to work in a way to minimize these and still keep the sport attractive and exciting,” FIS General Secretary Sarah Lewis told the Associated Press.