Speed skiing is the sport of skiing downhill in a straight line as fast as possible. It is the second fastest non-motorized sport on earth. The current world record is 156 mph (251.4 km/h). Speed skiers regularly exceed 125 mph (200 km/h), which is even faster than terminal velocity, the equilibrium speed of a body free-falling through the atmosphere. The terminal velocity of a skydiver in a normal free-fall position with a closed parachute is about 120 mph (193 km/h). (The fastest non-motorized sport is speed skydiving, in which divers reach speeds of over 300 mph.)
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 cut wind resistance, with only a mandatory back protector to give some protection in the case of a crash.
The special skis used must be between 2.2 and 2.4 metres (94.5 inches) long and maximum 10cm wide and 15 kg for the pair. ski boots are attached to the skis by bindings. The ski poles are bent to shape around the body, and must be a minimum of 1 m long.
Speed skiing is practiced on steep, specially designed courses one kilometer long, and there are only about thirty of them world-wide, many of them at high altitude to minimize resistance from the air. The first 300 or 400 meters of the course (the launching area) are used to gain speed, the top speed is measured in the next 100 meters and the last 500 m (the run-out area) are used for slowing down and coming to a stop, with the speed being recorded over the 100 m between (the timing zone). The start point in FIS races is chosen so that, in theory, skiers should not exceed 200 km/h, hence competition is aimed at winning a particular event, not breaking world speed records.
On the 14th of June, François Bon and Antoine Mountant did the world’s first ski gliding descent down Mount Eiger in Switzerland. It gets crazy about half way down.
Bungee jumping is an activity in which a person jumps off from a high place (generally of several hundred feet/meters) with one end of an elastic cord attached to his/her body or ankles and the other end tied to the jumping-off point. When the person jumps, the cord will stretch to take up the energy of the fall, then the jumper will fly upwards as the cord snaps back. The jumper oscillates up and down until the initial energy of the jump is dissipated.
Parkour is a physical discipline inspired by human movement. It focuses on uninterrupted, efficient forward motion over, under, around and through obstacles (both man-made and natural) in one’s environment. Such movement may come in the form of running, jumping, climbing and more complex techniques. The goal of parkour is to adapt one’s movement to any given obstacle.
According to founder David Belle, the spirit of parkour is guided in part by the notions of “escape” and “reach”, that is, the idea of using physical agility and quick thinking to get out of difficult situations, and to be able to go anywhere that one desires. Free running, a closely related art emphasizing aesthetics, is most concerned with fluidity and beauty. For example, Sébastien Foucan, a free runner who trained with David Belle during the infancy of the art, speaks of being “fluid like water,” a frequently used simile for the smooth passage of barriers through the use of parkour.
To some people (particularly non-practitioners), parkour is an extreme sport, to others a discipline more comparable to martial arts. Some consider it a combination of the two, recognizing similarities between parkour and the stunts and techniques of Hong Kong martial arts star Jackie Chan (who gained his skills from being trained for Beijing Opera), whose fight and chase scenes take place in industrial or urban environments. Still others see it as an art form akin to dance: a way to encapsulate human movement in its most beautiful form. Parkour is often connected with the idea of freedom, in the form of the ability to overcome aspects of one’s surroundings that tend to confine; for example, railings, staircases, or walls, it also encompasses freedom on a non-physical level. The practice of parkour requires considerable physical and mental dedication, and many adherents describe it as a “way of life.”
Let’s tel few words about ql outdoor sport called canyoning. Canyoning (known in the U.S. as canyoneering) is a sport popular in several countries. It involves travelling down creeks or streams within a canyon by a variety of means including walking, scrambling, climbing, abseiling, swimming and “li-loing” (using an inflatable air mattress). It requires skills in navigation, ropework, climbing, avoiding hypothermia etc.
Typically what separates a canyon from any ordinary stream is the narrow passage created by erosion into bedrock, creating beautiful sculptured walls and spectacular waterfalls.
Canyoning can be treacherous. There are risks associated with scrambling down uneven, slippery surfaces and abseiling in wet, cold conditions. Several fatalities have occurred in this sport as a result of flash flooding. the most infamous of which happened when a group of tourists on a commercial canyoning adventure trip were drowned in Switzerland in 1999.
FRWD is a sports computer that can measure, show and record everything essential to your workout. It can be used for running, skiing, mountain biking, inline skating, sailing, skydiving, orienteering, climbing, and many others.
frwd-006.jpgThere are several product packages to choose from and the most advanced one seems to be the W 600 package. It includes a FRWD Recorder Unit which contains the GPS chip, a wrist display, armstrap, re-player PC software, USB dongle, heart trate transmitter belt, battery charger and 4 rechargable batteries. This whole package costs 400 Euros. ($515).
However you can also get the B series which instead of wrist display comes with the software to show live data on your cell phone (via bluetooth). This package costs 300 Euros ($385).
How it works:
Go outside and switch on the FRWD Recorder Unit with a long press. The GPS receiver starts searching for satellites.
A steady blue/green light and a short signal indicate that the satellites have been located and the FRWD Recorder Unit is ready to record. Now start recording with a short press. During your performance route details, speed, distance, time, heart rate, altitude profile, temperature and air pressure are stored every second. You can also store an unlimited amount of route marks during your performance by pressing the Recorder Key.
Stop recording with a long press. The red led flashes and you hear a signal. The device switches off and the recording is done. Then transfer your performance data to the FRWD Replayer PC Software.
The Red Bull Air Race is an exciting competition in which the world’s most talented pilots are up against each other in a race based on speed, precision and skill.
The competition features a dynamic new discipline of flying, called ‘air racing’ where the objective is to navigate a challenging obstacle course in the sky in the fastest possible time. Pilots fly individually against the clock and have to complete tight turns through a slalom course consisting of specially designed 20m high pylons, known as ‘air gates’.
The Air Race is not just about speed but also precision. The slightest mistake can result in penalty points. Flying low to the ground at speeds that can reach over 400kph, while negotiating the air gates, requires immense skill that only a certain number of pilots in the world possess. That is why the pilots are hand selected based upon their expertise and experience. These pilots are at the top of their game. They have to be – the Air Race exerts huge demands on their flying abilities and they have to withstand forces of up to 10G. There is no room for error.
What makes the ‘Air Race’ so exciting and interesting for spectators is the proximity of the contest to the crowds. Low level flying on a relatively compact course means that people can really experience all the action close-up.
The idea of the Air Race was conceived by Red Bull who then approached renowned Hungarian pilot Peter Beseynei to help them refine the concept. The very first Red Bull Air Race took place at AirPower in Zeltweg, Austria in 2003 and was hailed a great success. It was clear that there was a huge potential for the competition. Subsequent Air Races were then held in Hungary, England and the USA and since then it has evolved into its current format, the Red Bull Air Race World Series. The first World Series kicked off in 2005, taking place in 7 venues across the world with 10 internationally acclaimed pilots competing.
11 pilots will take part in the 2006 Red Bull Air Race World Series in 9 spectacular international locations.
‘Air races’ have their roots in the US but unlike those contests where the objective was purely about speed, the Red Bull Air Race brings another dimension into the challenge – skill. They are using some of the lightest, agile and responsive planes that exist, but ultimately it’s the pilot’s stamina and skill that determines who will be crowned the next Red Bull Air Race World Series champion.
Stockholm, Sweden - Slovenian Matevz Petek was the winner of today’s first Big Air event of the Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup 2006/2007 season. At the debut of Stockholm as a World Cup host in the Olympic arena Stockholm stadium, the boarder from Celje earned 26.4 points in the big final of the new knock-out-format and thus relegated Peetu Piiroinen (24.9) to the second spot.
The Finnish freestyler Piiroinen, who at 18 was the youngest snowboarder in the finals of the best 16 qualifiers, had beaten his fellow countryman Risto Mattila before. But Mattila (25.9) was able to jump on the podium after he had successfully competed against Austrian Florian Mausser (24.7) in the battle for third.
“It’s a miracle,” Petek cheered right after the final run. “In the training, I wasn’t able to land my tricks at all. But in the finals, I was doing better and better with every single jump.” Besides his fourth World Cup triumph, the 23 year-old rider celebrated a much better season opening than he had last winter. “Last year, I missed the first two finals and thus lost too many points to fight for the Big Air’s Crystal Globe.”
In the final, Piiroinen had to accept the dominance of the Slovenian athlete, but the young Finn was happy to repeat his best World Cup result to date, scored in Kreischberg, Austria in 2005. “I wanted to make it to the finals and then do my best. I’m stoked that it worked out fine!”
In who celebrated his eighth Big Air World Cup podium, Matilla complimented Piiroinen on his good performance. “Peetu is an outstanding young gun,” Matilla said. “He is riding super good and rarely doesn’t stick his tricks. One can expect a lot from him in the future. He will be big! I myself am stoked with the third rank but mainly because I landed the
Nokia FIS Snowboard World Cup 2006-07
Big Air - Stockholm, Sweden
Nov. 11, 2006
Final:
1. PETEK Matevz SLO
2. PIIROINEN Peetu FIN
Small-final:
3. MATTILA Risto FIN
4. MAUSSER Florian AUT
1/4-Finals:
5. WIIG Andreas NOR
6. GIMPL Stefan AUT
7. KRATTER Giacomo ITA
8. NADIG Benedikt SUI
Mexico City recently rescheduled its rush hour to midnight: in the world’s first Dual Downhill Race in a subway station, 32 mountain bikers demonstrated how to make line jumpers at ticket counters and escalator rowdies look really old and sedate in the morning crush…
“The idea behind this race is brilliant. I’m pleased that we came all the way to Mexico City for it”, Gee Atherton says with a grin and a high-five with his brother Dan. The two Brits, 21 and 24 years old respectively, dominated the Red Bull Down Metro - the world’s first Dual Downhill Race in a subway station - in first and third place.
Over escalators and steep stairs
n front of thousands of curious onlookers, 32 death-defying downhillers plunged into the depths of the Metro station Barranca del Muerto shortly after the trains stopped running on November 4. The course led from the station entrance over steep stairs and tight escalators to the platform of Mexico City’s second-deepest subway station, 230 feet below. The only difference compared to normal operation conceded by the organizers was to erect steep banks in tight corners, in order to keep the neck-breaking speeds especially high. The dual duels on the daily route to work for thousands of local inhabitants were shown live on big screens to the spectators at street level.
Duel at dawn
Daybreak was near by the time the Athertons, whose 18-year-old sister is also a successful downhill biker, finished the spectacular underground show occupying two of the places on the podium. Local hero Memo de Uslar, several-times Mexican champion, trailed behind in fourth place after seven rounds. His fair congratulations: “The competition was so good that I’m completely satisfied with my result”.
1st: Gee Atherton
2nd: Brian Lopes
3rd: Dan Atherton
If running a 100K (62.1 miles) isn’t tough enough, then here is a race that just might be for you. 100K in Antarctica. The race is run 250-300 miles inland so as to not disturb wildlife. The snow is so fine it’s like running in sand and no skin can be exposed. more u can read on this page
lol Hmmm. They should tie some baseball cards to the forks next time, I loved doing that as a kid. He was going about 151ish mph (242 kph), more than enough for someone to shit in their pants.
The Red Bull Rampage was one of the last freeride events of the year as well as one of the craziest. This event takes riders down some of the most technical terain in Utah. Riders are judged on several levels including style and the difficulty of the lines they take. The best judged run down the mountain wins.
Jamie Pierre successfully jumped a record breaking 255 foot cliff off the backside of Fred’s Mountain located just outside the boundaries of Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, WY. The feat occurred on January 25, 2006 witnessed by the Teton Gravity Research production team.
Pierre recor
After researching the monster air for more than seven years, Pierre finally found conditions that were suitable for the jump. In communication with professional skier and 20 year Jackson Hole local, Jason Tattersall, Jaime and “Tat” determined that thesnowpack was in prime condition for the jump.
Tattersall had rapelled the cliff during the summer months to examine the sheerness of the cliff and find out the features that lie under the snow in the landing zone. Tattersall reported seeing nothing bigger than softball size rocks on the steep terrain.
Withheavy and persistent snowfall having brought 335+ inches (27.9 feet) to the Tetons this winter, it was primed with a deep and consistent landing necessary to support the intense impact.
Before the shoot Pierre was heard saying: “If I do this I am not going to get hurt.” So after 30 minutes of preparation, full confidence and a brief prayer Pierre leapt off the massive buttress, holding a mute grab in first 50 feet and then continuing the 4 second freefall before hitting the snow. Jamie’s bomb hole left him buried 6 feet under the snow for roughly a minute until he was dug out by nearby photographer, Adam Clark. He skied away making deep powder turns from the record breaking air with a mere bloody lip.
Josh Nielsen, TGR’s supervising producer was onsite said this of the event: “It was a really, really heavy and intense experience for all of us, the event was managed by Pierre and we were kind of along for the ride”
The cliff was initially measured at 245 feet with a rage finder used for B.A.S.E. jumping. The day after photographer Wade McKoy went back to the site and measured the jump by rope with the speculation that the distance is greater, with the closer to exact result of 255 feet.
When asked, “How did you feel that night?” Pierre replied “That was the best night of sleep I have had since becoming a professional skier some 16 years ago.”
Some video of jamie pierre but note that this is not the record breaking jump
Speed skiing is the sport of skiing downhill in a straight line as fast as possible. It is the second fastest non-motorized sport on earth. The current world record is 156 mph (251.4 km/h). Speed skiers regularly exceed 125 mph (200 km/h), which is even faster than terminal velocity, the equilibrium speed of a body free-falling through the atmosphere. The terminal velocity of a skydiver in a normal free-fall position with a closed parachute is about 120 mph (193 km/h). (The fastest non-motorized sport is speed skydiving, in which divers reach speeds of over 300 mph.)
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 cut wind resistance, with only a mandatory back protector to give some protection in the case of a crash.
n front of thousands of curious onlookers, 32 death-defying downhillers plunged into the depths of the Metro station Barranca del Muerto shortly after the trains stopped running on November 4. The course led from the station entrance over steep stairs and tight escalators to the platform of Mexico City’s second-deepest subway station, 230 feet below. The only difference compared to normal operation conceded by the organizers was to erect steep banks in tight corners, in order to keep the neck-breaking speeds especially high. The dual duels on the daily route to work for thousands of local inhabitants were shown live on big screens to the spectators at street level.
