Speed skier's space-age bid to beat world record

A FRENCHMAN will this week use spacecraft technology in his bid to reach a record 158mph on skis.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is providing a stabilisation mechanism for Martin Lachaud’s skis during his record-breaking attempt.

The equipment, which was originally developed for an ESA comet-chasing mission, is designed to minimise vibration, which is one of the main factors in reducing ski speed.

Lachaud, the world speed skiing champion, will attempt to beat the 155.8mph record at the 2004 Pro Mondiale, or World Speed Skiing Championships, in Les Arcs, France, which start tomorrow.

Mr Lachaud said: "Next to wind resistance, vibrations are the single-most important element limiting the top speed. I am looking forward to trying the new skis."

Skis Rossignol, Mr Lachaud’s team, has worked on the technology with ESA’s technology- transfer programme to develop the special skis.

Matthieu Leger, of Skis Rossignol’s research and innovation division, said: "We established the collaboration with ESA to study carefully how skis behave on snow, and to optimise the gliding factor."

A vibration-control system was developed to minimise the skis’ vibration and maximise gliding conditions.

This was achieved by optimising the thickness of water film under the skis, which is formed from snowflakes by friction.

In 1870, a gold prospector, Tommy Todd, achieved a record speed of 93mph on a run at La Porte in California.

When the sport took off in Europe, Lo Gaspari, a mountaineer, set the first record of 89mph in Saint Moritz.

By the end of the 1930s, speed skiing had become an annual event, which took place at Cervinia in Italy.