Olympic athletes are the best of the best in each sport from their respective countries. As they push their limits, they test their own limits and those of their equipment. Sometimes, this can lead to disasters. While the Olympics continually update their viewing technology, safety can be restrictive for participants. What to do? Be safe and slow, or fast and lose your life? This year, skiiers have added an extra safety measure for when they do ‘fly down the slopes’: airbags!
Yes, just like in vehicles, skiers wear state-of-the-art airbag vests that inflate during crashes.
Slopes
The Winter Olympics are in Italy, home of the fastest slopes on Earth, with skiers routinely hitting freeway speeds. One wrong turn of the skis could invite disaster,
The Vest
Engineers spent several years perfecting a wearable airbag vest. The FIS made airbag vests mandatory for all speed events for the 2024-2025 World Cup circuit. The mandate will also apply to the downhill events at the Olympics. The airbag uses sensors trained on years of runs and GPS technology to monitor an athlete’s motion and trigger only in real crashes. Some athletes have tried to argue their way out of the mandate, suggesting they reduce their speed and that they don’t want their course time put at risk by a malfunctioning vest. Other skiers argue the vest impedes their movement. Still, other skiers said it offered peace of mind, allowing them to focus on performance.
Other Safety Measures
At the same time, organizers and the International Skiing Federation (FIS) are redesigning training courses for greater safety. Ideas under consideration include nets and larger fall zones.
The airbag mandate should help protect skiers during the downhill events. Companies are looking at how quick-release ski bindings or boots could help reduce the number of knee and tibia injuries when skis don’t snap off in a crash.
