Event News

On 30 January, three of Britain's top speed skiers took part in the FIS Speed Skiing World Cup Downhill in Vars. Marc Poncin won the event with a speed of 194km/h, with his team mates Benja Hedley (7th place) and Tom Horn (8th place) obtaining very credible positions in a field of 20 international skiers.

For Benja Hedley, this was a phenomenal achievement, as only two weeks before his event he had his right leg in a cast from a surfing accident. Having only taken up the sport last year, it was Hedley's first full competition experience. Hedley was thrilled with 7th place describing it as a "personal success".

Speed Skiing (skiing down the slope in a straight line, at the fastest possible speed), although now dropped as an Olympic sport for being too dangerous, is one of the most exhilarating sports out there. Marc Poncin competed in the event at the 1992 Albertville games, when speed skiing was still on the Olympic calendar and being the most viewed event after the men's downhill there are many who wish it was being held in the 2010 Winter Olympics!

The current world record is held by Simone Origone, who reached a speed of 251.4km/h, however for FIS events, there is a regulation to ensure that the skier does not go faster than 200km/h, thus the skier focuses on winning of the event, rather than obtaining a new world record.

The next speed skiing World Cup events will be held in Salla, Finland and  Idre and Hundfjallet/Salen in Sweden before culminating in Verbier on 19 April for the final. More information can be found on the FIS website, and good luck GBR!