Among the many world-class athletes attending Nissan Skipass was Simone Origone, a pro in the most extreme discipline across the entire winter sports scene: speed skiing.
The suits worn by athletes in this sport to compete and break speed records on snow look like space suits—records that Origone has shattered, reaching the top of the world by claiming first place globally with a speed of 251 km/h.
The fastest skier in the world shared his story at Skipass during a press conference where he took center stage.
Having started his career in alpine skiing, he had to give up that discipline due to a serious injury. However, having grown up on the snow, he never let go of his dream of exceeding 200 km/h on skis, and one day on the snows of France he discovered the world of the flying kilometer.
That discovery allowed him to click back into his skis, start working on his project, and push beyond the limits. After several years of training and attempts, he succeeded in setting the World Record.
Simone explained how many different factors come into play in this discipline: the best courses are those that offer a steep yet consistent gradient, allowing the skier to keep building speed all the way to the finish line. The required gear is made from special materials: a plasticized suit that blocks airflow and minimizes drag during the run, helmets almost always custom-made by master craftsmen, and special skis measuring 238 cm in length and 10 cm in width.
Another little-known fact is that such ski tracks are rare across the Alpine arc. The most important tracks are located in France, notably in the resorts of Vars and Les Arcs. A speed skiing track must provide steep gradients over long distances.
When he cannot travel to France, he trains on his home slopes of Monterosa: Origone heads up the mountain with his brother (also a record holder in the same discipline) before the slopes open to the public and hurtles down the runs into the valley at 200 km/h. Another training ground is Cervinia (Plateau Rosà), where he lets loose from time to time.
While snow-covered slopes are his competition arena, one of his alternative training grounds is the wind tunnel, where the Italian champion tests his gear to evaluate its aerodynamics.
His next appointment is in March 2014, when on melting spring snow (the fastest surface for this discipline) Simone will try to beat his own mark once again and cement his world leadership in speed skiing!
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