Injury prevention in Super-G alpine ski racing through course design

In Super-G alpine ski racing mean speed is nearly as high as in Downhill. Hence, the energy dissipated in typical impact accidents is similar. However, unlike Downhill, on Super-G courses no training runs are performed. Accordingly, speed control through course design is a challenging but important task to ensure safety in Super-G. In four male World Cup alpine Super-G races, terrain shape, course setting and the mechanics of a high-level athlete skiing the course were measured with differential global navigation satellite systems (dGNSS). The effects of course setting on skier mechanics were analysed using a linear mixed effects model. To reduce speed by 0.5 m/s throughout a turn, the gate offset needs to be increased by+51%. This change simultaneously leads to a decrease in minimal turn radius (- 19%), an increase in impulse (+27%) and an increase in maximal ground reaction force (+6%). In contrast, the same reduction in speed can also be achieved by a - 13% change in vertical gate distance, which also leads to a small reduction in minimal turn radius (- 4%) impulse (- 2%), and no change in maximal ground reaction force; i.e. fewer adverse side effects in terms of safety. It appears that shortening the vertical gate distance is a better and safer way to reduce speed in Super-G than increasing the gate offset.

Automated summary

In Super-G alpine ski racing, course design plays a crucial role in speed control and ensuring safety. Increasing gate offset to reduce speed results in several adverse effects, while decreasing vertical gate distance is a safer method to achieve the same goal with fewer negative consequences in terms of safety.