The requirement applies to downhill and super giant slalom, which will be contested in the World Cup for the first time in the beginning of December in the United States.
20:37•Updated 20:52
Athletes competing in the downhill and super giant slalom speed sports of alpine skiing must use airbags in their equipment in the starting season. Council of the International Ski Federation FIS confirmed the decision at its meeting on Friday.
FIS points out that the national Ski Federations can grant exemptions regarding the use of airbags if the airbag does not suit the athlete, i.e. for example prevents movement, thus causing a possible danger.
– For FIS, the safety of the athletes is the number one thing and it cannot be negotiated. The introduction of airbags is part of a wider whole, which minimizes the risk of serious injuries, FIS general secretary Michel Vion quoth.
The FIS has stated in the past that airbags have proven to be a valuable means of increasing the safety of speed runners. The airbags intended for use by alpine skiers were originally made for motorcycling, but they have been modified to suit the sport.
A sensor connected to the GPS a thousand times a second detects if the calculator is about to fall over and activates the airbag.
In addition, FIS appeals to athletes to use cut-resistant underwear in the future, which could have mitigated the injuries suffered by Kilde, for example. The International Skiing Federation aims to make cut-resistant outfits mandatory for the 2025-2026 season.