Flashing along at 255.5 km/h, Frenchman and Varsinc Simon Billy marked a turning point in the history of speed skiing by becoming the world’s fastest man on Tuesday March 22, 2023 in Vars (Hautes-Alpes). Here’s a look back at his performance!
A glorious day for the young skier, who took the world record with a speed of 255.5 km/h and the title of discpline world champion. The previous record was held by Italy’s Ivan Origone, who clocked 254.958 km/h in 2016.
From a famous family of speed skiers, Simon Billy has been training on the legendary Chabrières piste, the scene of world records, from an early age. The 32-year-old from the Haut-Alpes region followed in the footsteps of his father, Philippe Billy, who won the world record in 1997 with a speed of 243.902 kph. He had to wait 7 years for perfect snow conditions to allow him to start from the summit.
Since I was a kid, I’ve witnessed all the records here in Vars, and today I’m writing my name in history, after my father did it a few years earlier. Today, it’s a childhood dream come true.
Like a top-level sportsman, Simon Billy gave himself the means to go for this victory: with his family and his team, he analyzed his previous day’s run to make the final adjustments that enabled him to beat this record.
Starting with his old helmet, optimized for this final run, the young skier was able to find his bearings and recover the last few hundredths he needed to overtake his main rival Simone Origone.
Supported by his family, his entourage, his team and the resort of Vars, Simon Billy won his personal record and claimed a victory he would describe as a “collective” victory.
The local champion wrote a new page in the history of speed skiing.
2013 to 2017: He never stops performing, reaching even more insane speeds every year.
2016: He becomes the fastest Frenchman in history with a time of 252.809km/h.
March 2017: He takes the start at the summit of Chabrières but falls at over 230km/h.
2018: After many months of rehabilitation, he takes part in the Speed Masters (world record attempt) but is unable to reach high speeds.
unconsciously.
Nevertheless, he wins the title of French Champion ahead of the best Frenchman of the moment, Bastien Montes.
2019: He becomes World runner-up just behind the Italian, Simone Origone.
2021 : The pandemic intervenes and only allows the athletes to compete in one competition in Sweden, where Simon wins his first crystal globe…
2022 : The year of the World Champion title.
2023: World champion for the 2nd year running
Relive the world championship and the world record attempt in speed skiing.
