Where to Ski And Snowboard - French skier breaks downhill record

French skier breaks downhill record

25th January 2013, by Abi Butcher

Skier Johan Clarey clocked 100.6mph on the downhill in Wengen

French skier Johan Clarey has broken the downhill ski speed record of 100mph, during a World Cup race in Wengen.

The 32-year-old skier, who eventually finished fifth in the FIS World Cup event last weekend, clocked 100.6mph (161.9kmph) on the 2.7-mile Lauberhorn course.

Clarey recorded the fastest speed in the 46-year-history of the downhill competition on the Hanneggschuss straight, just two minutes into his run.

Italian skier Stefan Thanei set the previous record of 98mph in 2005, a speed which topped four times during the weekend. First with Swiss Carlo Janka at 98.66mph, then Canada’s Benjamin Thomsen with 99.3mph and Austrian Hannes Reichelt recording 99.6mph.

Next came Clarey, who said of the record: “It’s a good feeling.”

“I felt it was faster than in training and it wasn’t scary. It’s a little thing in the race but I’m happy to have it,” he said, adding that he believes he will hold the record for “some time now”.

Italy’s Christof Innerhofer was the eventual winner, fastest overall on the longest course on the World Cup circuit in two minutes and 29 seconds.

Austria’s Marcel Hirscher currently leads the World Cup men’s standings, and Slovenia’s Tina Maze leads the women. Next up is the FIS World Championships in Schladming.