In the downhill, a skier like 2009 world champion and Canadian John Kucera can reach speeds in excess of 130km/h. (Armando Trovati/Associated Press) Downhill skiing is a celebration of speed. It's one of the most exhilarating sights on snow — racers reach speeds in excess of 130km/h on two rattling planks, risking the potential for a spectacular crash to have a shot at Olympic glory.
The downhill is one of the most dangerous Winter Olympic events, as well as one of the most unpredictable. Athletes must deal with variables such as weather, equipment selection, course design, and race order, all of which play a role in determining who skis home with the gold.
Training runs
The dangerous nature of the downhill makes it essential that skiers test the Olympic slope in timed training runs. The practice sessions allow racers to familiarize themselves with the course. Training runs also allow skiers and coaches to identify what certain athletes need to work on and how they're stacking up against the competition.
Planning and scheduling training runs is another vital component of a skier's strategy. There is usually a minimum of two training runs scheduled, weather permitting, but competitors are only required to participate in one.
Race order
A skier's start position, chosen by draw on the eve of the event, is another important race variable. Weather and course conditions are the primary considerations for racers when selecting their bib number.
"If there's a lot of loose snow in downhill, and there's more snow to be expected, count on the racers to be choosing between 15 and 30," says CBC analyst Kerrin Lee-Gartner, the 1992 Olympic downhill champion. "If it's icy, hard and very technical, chances are they'll choose between seven and 12, for example."
In World Cup competitions, the top 15 racers are determined by a complex formula of ranking points called the World Cup Start List (WCSL). These skiers, starting with the top-ranked athlete, select any bib number in the top 30. Next, any racer with a minimum of 400 WCSL points is allowed to choose from the remaining top 30 spots.
For the Olympic Games, the starting order is decided by a skier's time in the training runs. The 30 fastest competitors start in the reversed order of their times achieved in the last training. Thereafter the starting order is made according to FIS points.
Organization and the course
American Bode Miller often experiences drops between 800 to 1100 metres on the downhill course. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)The downhill is a timed event consisting of one run. The winner is the skier who crosses the finish line in the least amount of time, right down to the hundredth of a second.
A limited number of control gates mark the course, letting the skiers know the proper path to take down the hill. The vertical drop on downhill courses ranges between 800 to 1100 metres for men, and 450 to 800m for women. Designers look for a challenging blend of steep slopes, flat sections, bumps and jumps.
Given all the inherent dangers of the downhill, courses are built with safety in mind. Small pine needles are sprinkled on the snow to enhance skiers' depth perception at high speeds. The needles are most effective when racers try landing a jump.
The most obvious safety measures are the bright-coloured padding and plastic netting that line the downhill course. They are the last barrier protecting out-of-control skiers from trees, rocks, chairlifts, and other off-course hazards.
The downhill is the only alpine event in which an International Ski Federation (FIS) representative sets the course, rather than a member of a participating country. This is because of the high speeds and potential for serious injury.
Skiers inspect the course in the days leading up to the race, side-slipping down the hill every morning. They analyze every bump, bend, transition and straightaway, while deciding the most direct line down the run.
Equipment, wax and technicians
Strong training runs, a favourable start position, and perfected technique are important to any downhill racer, but they don't amount to much without world-class equipment. This is where the unsung heroes of skiing take over — the technicians. These experts ensure a racer uses the proper set of skis and wax for the given snow and weather conditions.
"Each of the downhillers will have anywhere from eight to 12 pairs of downhill skis, and they've got technicians who baby these skis all season long," says Lee-Gartner.
Technicians test the skis and know which models work best on natural or artificial snow in a wide range of temperatures.
Technicians are also responsible for wax application and ski preparation. Wax companies send their own technicians to measure snow temperature, moisture level, and the snow crystals on a course. With the rare exception of a couple skiers per race, most athletes have their skis prepared in similar fashion because they all work with the same information.
Strategy and technique: The tuck
The crouched downhill skiing stance called the tuck is the most aerodynamic racing position of all the alpine disciplines. Downhillers are looking for the least amount of wind exposure to their body as possible. While in a tuck position, their arms are placed in front of their bodies with their hands close together within their line of vision for most of the race.
Their poles are tucked under their arms close to the body to produce maximum speed. Racers need to run through the course losing as little momentum as possible, since it's hard to gain back once it's lost.
Gliding
A downhiller must also be a good glider, meaning they should be able to carry speed through flat and semi-flat terrain. World-class gliders remain in their tuck position as much as possible and do not rely on their ski edges too much since they can slow them down.
Strategy and technique: Transitions
Carrying speed and momentum in transition areas, from a pitch to a flat section and vice versa, is another key downhill element. The process starts with a strong inspection on the days leading into the race.
"They'll analyze their line like a racecar driver would analyze their line going into a turn and try and figure out exactly where they can go to carry the most speed onto the flat. And it makes a very big difference," says Lee-Gartner.
For example, a racer who carries 102km/h onto a 30-second flat section gives up a huge advantage to a skier going 106km/h. Performing well in the transitions is a combination of strong technical turning and gliding. Most podium-bound racers excel at both techniques.
The mental game
The psychological aspect of downhill is also important. Racers must stay focused, headstrong, and have the desire to win. Different athletes prepare mentally for races in different ways. Most top-flight athletes work with sport psychologists at various points in the season to keep their mental edge as sharp as their physical performance.
Skiers are always aware of the dangers of alpine speed events, but the threat of accidents can play on athletes' minds, creating mental barriers that can be hard to shake.
