Series of skiing injuries: Austrians demand speed brakes during speed races

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The Austrians are sounding the alarm. “The injuries are harmful to skiing,” Christian Scherer, secretary general of the ÖSV, said in an interview with Austrian media. The background to the statement is the speed races in Cortina d’Ampezzo, which resulted in several violent falls and serious injuries. Even before Cortina, Petra Vlhova, Marco Schwarz (both 28) and Aleksander Kilde (31) were absolute stars of the scene this winter.

The ÖSV is now calling for measures to combat the injury witch. “We have to slow down the speeds in the speed races,” says Scherer. “But there are several approaches: controlling speed, different suits, cut-resistant ski underwear, ski preparation.”

Scherer wants to put the proposals on the table at the FIS conference (5/6 February). He does say that the relationship with FIS boss Johan Eliasch (61) is not good: “I have no need to call him now.”

In addition to the safety of the athletes, Austrians are concerned about the young talent. The number of starters in children’s races is decreasing. “This is primarily due to the time management of the families and secondly due to the cost situation,” says association boss Scherer. Climate change should also become more and more of a problem. Together with ÖSV skier and climate activist Julian Schütter (25), the association wants to develop a position paper by the summer. (cmu)

Source : Blick