Feature

At maximum speed on snow and ice

The maximum possible speed is the most important factor in many types of winter sport. Whether it’s in speed skating, luge, or bobsledding. Once the finish line is reached, only the time decides between victory and defeat.

03/08/2018 12:02:22

In conjunction with the Institute for the Research and Development of Sports Equipment (FES), Schaeffler is developing new materials for runners and blades, and custom-fit chassis bearings, which were also used during the Olympic Winter Games.

Technology and speed

Speed is the most important factor when athletes are traveling on snow and ice in the winter. In many disciplines, the low friction coefficient between the sports equipment and the surface enables speeds that are not reached by athletes in summer. A ski gliding over snow usually has only a tenth of the friction between a car tyre and the road. In the case of ice skating, the film of water between the blade and the ice reduces the sliding friction to a minimum. Sometimes, only hundredths of a second decide between victory and defeat. This is the reason why not only the strength, endurance and skill of the athletes are important in winter sport, high-performance sports equipment is also essential.

Read the full article in the August issue of DPA

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.