If you think of an alpine skiing race, the speed and noise of the edges on the snow immediately come to mind. Behind what you see on the track, however, lies an often overlooked element: the technology of protective devices. In recent years, skiers’ equipment has transformed into an increasingly sophisticated system: airbags capable of inflating in a few milliseconds, helmets designed to counteract head rotations and flexible back protectors that stiffen on impact. Solutions born, in many cases, from dramatic accidents, which have pushed technology towards a clear goal: allowing skiers to continue to push themselves beyond their limits, reducing the price to pay when something goes wrong.
The life-saving vest: the Airbag
Downhill and Super-G are not only the fastest races in alpine skiing, where speeds can reach up to 140 km/h, but they are also the most dangerous. For years, protection against high-energy trauma relied on passive solutions, until the revolutionary idea of the airbag came along. Its mandatory adoption in speed competitions is a concrete demonstration of how tragedies and innovation can go hand in hand: the accident of the promising young Italian Matilde Lorenzi, who lost her life during training in 2024, accelerated the introduction of this technology in races.
The airbag system for competitive skiing is a technical vest worn under the suit, designed to remain completely invisible until activated. Inside, sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes monitor the athlete’s movement and dynamics on the track in real time. This data is processed by an algorithm capable of recognizing typical situations of a fall. When the system identifies a potentially dangerous event, it activates the “Shield”, an airbag bag made of high-resistance technical fabric, designed to ensure rapid and uniform inflation.
The airbag inflates in a few milliseconds, mainly covering the chest and the areas most exposed to side and frontal impacts. Thanks to its internal structure, it distributes the impact force more evenly than rigid protectors, reducing the risk of trauma. In the case of Dainese D-Airthe bag is designed to be used up to three times, thanks to the FRS system (Fast Replacement System) which allows the skier to independently replace the gas generator and restore the functionality of the device between one race and another.
MIPS: rotational impact protection
For years, it was believed that the main problem was absorbing the force of a direct, or linear, impact. The helmets were tested by dropping them vertically. Yet, most high-speed crashes in racing don’t happen in a linear fashion; they are angled impacts against snow, poles or protective nets, which cause a sudden and violent twisting of the head.
This is where MIPS comes in (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), recognizable by the small yellow dot on many racing helmets. It is a very thin shell inserted between padding and hard shell. In the event of an oblique impact, it allows the head to move in a controlled manner by 10 – 15 mm, deflecting some of the rotational energy and reducing the risk of brain trauma. In FIS approved competition helmets, the integration of MIPS has redefined head protection, combining safety and lightness.
The development of the back protector and anti-tear fibres
The back protector is now a fundamental component for ski safety, having evolved from the old rigid shells towards much more flexible and adaptive devices. Most modern models use viscoelastic polymers (such as D3O), which combine freedom of movement and advanced protection: in normal conditions the material remains soft and follows the athlete’s movements, while in the event of an impact it stiffens instantly to reduce the force transmitted to the spine and distribute the impact energy over a larger area.
In addition to impacts, one of the less visible but most dangerous risks in skiing is represented by lacerations caused by the edges of the skis. To protect themselves, athletes wear cut-resistant clothing under their racing suits, made from ultra-high-strength fibers such as Kevlar (used in bulletproof vests) or UHMWPE (high molecular weight polyethylene). These garments, which include tight-fitting trousers and shirts, are able to deflect the blades without hindering movement, protecting the legs, neck and arms.
Additional protection for slalomists
In disciplines such as Slalom and Giant Slalom, impacts do not only arise from falls, but also from the articulated poles that the athletes repeatedly hit to shorten the trajectory.
To protect themselves from these frequent impacts, professional skiers wear:
- Shin guards, forearm guards and hand guards: in carbon fibre, light but resistant. They protect shins, forearms and hands from direct impacts without reducing the skier’s agility.
- Chin guard: a rigid metal or plastic reinforcement attached to the helmet, which protects the chin and jaw from impacts from poles.
In alpine skiing the margin for error remains minimal, but the evolution of protection has profoundly changed the way athletes deal with risk.
