Robert Sills, an engineering undergraduate at Trinity Hall, has put his fourth year project to a rather unusual use – in helping improve the performance of the British Speed Ski Team.

By studying the aerodynamics of speed skiing, Sills has developed methods that should help the British Speed Ski Team by reducing aerodynamic drag. Speed skiing involves skiing downhill in a straight line at the highest speed possible.

The world record for speed skiing is 251.4km/h, a record held by Italian speed skier, Simone Origone. Speed skiers regularly reach speeds over 200km/h, faster than the terminal velocity of a skydiver in free fall.

Research began last year by James Richardson after being contacted by Benja Hedley, a Cambridge alumnus who is currently holds the record for the third fastest downhill run on the GB team, travelling at 182.741 km/h.

As an enthusiastic skier who has participated in racing for the University, Sills was keen to get involved. At the beginning of January, he carried out a week of tests with four skiers from the GB Team, using the Engineering Department’s wind tunnel.

At speeds of up to 180 km/h, Sills measured the drag of the skiers and also recorded their joint angles. From this, he could calculate the position that would provide the least resistance.

He then developed a training tool that allowed the skiers to see their ideal position and drag in real time. One particular position put skiers diving forwards, in contrast to the traditional tuck position normally adopted by speed skiers.

But although this position proved extremely fast, when tested by one of the team members during the World Championships in January, it was banned on safety grounds by race officials.

As well as working on the positions of the skiers, Sills is also looking at making adjustments to the equipment, specifically the fairings on their calves that help streamline the skiers. He is testing a variety of shapes to try and find the optimum fairing to reduce drag.

After modifications to equipment and adjusting the skiers’ position, Sills has managed to reduce drag by up to 35%. Sills says he is “very happy with the results” of the project so far.

“Jan Farrell, who is one of the skiers I was working with has just come 4th in his class at the latest round of the World Championships out in Canada.”

The project is on-going, but Sills is very excited for its application in the upcoming World Championships:

“I've got one more test week coming up at the end of this month in preparation for the last world championships competition in April. I'm hoping to make it out to the Alps for this event, to see the team in action and possibly give speed skiing a go myself!”