Equipment designed to reduce risk of severe traumatic injuries in alpine ski racing: constructive collaboration between the International Ski Federation, industry and science

Abstract

To address these concerns, an expert group consisting of researchers, FIS Race Directors and technicians of four ski manufacturers named by the Ski Racing Suppliers Association (ie, Atomic, Fischer, Head, Rossignol) defined new giant slalom and downhill skis with the aim of reducing the risk of injuries. Owing to the constructive and commercial considerations of the ski manufacturers, as well as the restrictions with respect to an appropriate execution of the rules by FIS, not every technical solution was viable.