[2][5] It was a demonstration sport at the Albertville 1992 Winter Olympics on the Les Arcs speed skiing course, but was deemed too dangerous after several recorded deaths.
[6][7] Speed skiing is practiced on steep, specially designed courses one kilometer (0.62 mi) in length.
The start point in FIS races is chosen so that, in theory, skiers should not exceed 200 kilometres per hour (124 mph), hence competition is aimed at winning a particular event, not breaking world speed records.
[8] Speed skiers wear dense foam fairings on their lower legs and aerodynamic helmets to increase streamlining.
Their ski suits are made from air-tight latex or have a polyurethane coating to reduce wind resistance, with only a minimal (but mandatory) back protector to give some protection in the case of a crash.