Die Regeln » dden under a racing suit, skiers who ar

CALGARY - An air bag soon to be introduced to World Cup ski racing was tested on the backs of Canadian athletes.Jan Hudec, Erik Guay and Manny Osborne-Paradis were among the lab rats for a vest designed to inflate around a skiers shoulders, upper back and chest in a crash.The D-air Ski technology was developed by Dainese, a sports equipment and apparel company which sponsors the three Canadians, in partnership with the sports international governing body.Hudec, Guay and Osborne-Paradis joined sponsored skiers from other countries in wearing the D-air during World Cup training runs last season.I have to say and Im happy to say the Canadian team is one of the most interested when it comes to safety, said Vittorio Cafaggi, who is responsible for the development of strategic projects for Dainese.The Federation International du Ski (FIS) was initially going to allow skiers to start wearing the air bag in World Cup races Dec. 19-20 in Val-Gardena, Italy. Its introduction has been delayed because the device exceeded maximum thickness under the rules.Skiers can race with air bag systems which conform to the FIS rules and specifications after Dec. 31, FIS announced last week. The racers can continue to try out the air bag in training runs until then.The mens World Cup downhill season opens Saturday in Lake Louise, Alta., with a super-G to follow Sunday.Ski racers have worn back braces, called turtlebacks because of their shape, for several years. But the D-air is designed to increase protection by inflating about five centimetres.Hudec, who won an Olympic bronze medal in super-G in February, is a believer in the technology itself.Fundamentally its a good idea, obviously. Anything that can make the sport safer can actually make it more exciting because guys will push more and be in a better place to push the limits, the Calgarian said.Guay, the 2011 world downhill champion, says he wore the air bag in every training run in 2013-14.Theres a lot of back injuries, theres a lot of knee injuries and if we can take out certain elements of risk, I think its a good thing, Guay said.This D-air, you dont even feel it when youre going down. Its only when youre about to crash that it sort of inflates. Its not like you turn into the Michelin man where you cant control anything and cant see anything.Its only about seven centimetres that it blows up so it sort of protects your neck and thoracic area, as well as your back. Its just that extra layer of protection before you hit the nets.The ski air bag is a spinoff from similar protection motorcycle racers have worn for years in Moto Grand Prix. The air bag deploys when the rider is unseated from the motorcycle.Given the sharp angles of skiers bodies and the occasional striking of a gate with their shoulders, whats to stop the air bag from accidentally inflating during a race?Thats why we call it intelligent clothing. It can distinguish between a normal conduction and an accident situation, Cafaggi explained from Vicenza, Italy.The brain of the system has one name — algorithm — which is a mathematical function that constantly analyzes all the data coming from the sensors. Through this analysis, it can decide if what it sees is an accident or not. As there are seven sensors, you have a pretty good flow of data coming into the algorithm and being processed.The air bag is also equipped with three accelerometers, three gyroscopes and one global positioning unit, Cafaggi added.Wearing the D-air in races will be voluntary, so it remains to be seen who will be the early adopters.Ski racers are loath to wear anything they think compromises aerodynamics in a sport where a hundredth of a second is the difference between a medal and no medal.Because of wind-tunnel testing, both FIS and Dainese are satisfied the D-air is aerodynamically neutral, which means it doesnt positively or negatively affect aerodynamics.Hudec will not be the only skier needing convincing, however.I believe in its safety and everything else, Hudec said. But at the end of the day, if nine out of 10 racers are not wearing it and youre wearing it and you are 10th or eighth, even if you ski poorly or your skis werent good enough that day or whatever else, its always going to be in the back of your mind whether it played a role or not or was a factor.Osborne-Paradis says the air bag is another piece of safety equipment skiers can become accustomed to, but adds race suits may have to be adapted to it.You put a back brace on, you put your shin guards on, you put your mouth guard on, you put your helmet on. Its just one more thing to make you feel invincible on the hill. Thats the advantage, he said.Its more, is it more work to get in your tuck, can you tuck as low as you need to tuck? Our suits are already so tight, it might mean designing a downhill suit that actually fits that.When asked if hell wear the air back in races come January, Osborne-Paradis said: I have no idea. It totally depends on my season and how it feels.FIS wants to reduce the number of injuries to its elite athletes and has been working with Dainese on the D-air for four years. Hudec thinks FIS should go all-in and make the air bag mandatory in racing.Otherwise, its unreasonable to see some athletes wearing it and some not, he said.The other issue both Guay and Hudec foresee is even though the D-air is hidden under a racing suit, skiers who are sponsored by other companies will be reluctant to don gear produced by a competing sponsor.The issue is going to be Dainese is so far ahead of all the other companies now that the other companies have to basically catch up or (their skiers) not wear it, Guay said. Were at that position.Cafaggi expects skiers will eventually buy in to technology that can keep them racing. Skiers cant earn World Cup points, win prize money or satisfy sponsors if theyre injured on the sidelines.What I can say is I can bring the experience I have in motorcycle racing. At the beginning, only a few were using the back protectors. Now everyone is wearing one, Cafaggi said. It took 15 years. Its not something that will happen immediately, but it will happen.Hudec crashed and hurt his lower back in a World Cup super-G training run in March. He says the air bag wouldnt have prevented the injury because it doesnt extend that far down his back.I had a bit of a motorbike crash this summer and I wish I would have been wearing it at the time, Hudec said. Ironically enough, I was not skiing. I was on a motorbike, which was the thing it was designed for in the first place.If I would have worn it, I actually probably would have not hurt my shoulder at all. I barely got hurt and if I had been wearing it, I would have been totally unscathed. Tennessee Titans Jerseys . Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Capitals possible summer plans, with the understanding that its tough to plot a direction without a general manager or head coach around which to set those expectations. Malcolm Butler Jersey . The appointment of Boullier continues the behind-the-scenes restructuring at McLaren, who recently brought back former team principal Ron Dennis as its new chief executive. http://www.authenticfootballshoptitans.c...-titans-jersey/. Winners of two straight, the Flames will try to become the first team in 25 years to go three consecutive games without taking a penalty Saturday night in San Jose. Bennie Logan Jersey . -- Colin Kaepernick insists he just happened to pull on a pair of socks with dollar bill prints all over them Wednesday morning -- before he learned he had struck a new fortune with the San Francisco 49ers. Dion Lewis Jersey . -- Top-ranked Stacy Lewis birdied the last three holes and five of the final six Thursday for an 8-under 64 and a share of the lead with Mi Jung Hur in the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Kyle Lohse is making a habit of finishing strong. The Brewers hope against all odds that hes not done yet. Lohse made the most of another wasteful day for Milwaukees offence, throwing a two-hitter and driving in a run on Wednesday night for a 5-0 victory that forestalled elimination from the playoffs a bit longer. Milwaukee will be eliminated from the wild card race with a loss or a win by San Francisco, which played later Wednesday at Los Angeles. Pittsburgh clinched at least the other wild card spot on Tuesday night. "Hopefully we get a lot of luck here and maybe he gets another start," manager Ron Roenicke said. The Brewers led the NL Central for 150 days, but fell apart at the end. Since June 28th, theyve gone 30-45. The offence has unraveled, scoring two or fewer runs in each of the previous six games. "Its been tough for everybody," said Lohse (13-9), who faced only 29 batters. "It just felt like we were climbing uphill the whole time and couldnt get anything going. Unfortunately thats the way its been going." Lohse gave up a pair of singles by Jack Hannahan, didnt walk a batter and fanned six in his second shutout of the season. He also had a sacrifice fly during Milwaukees three-run eighth inning, which was highlighted by Jean Seguras two-run double. If Segura hadnt doubled, Roenicke was going to pinch-hit for Lohse to try to get more runs. "I think he saved me there," Lohse said. "That was huge." The big inning allowed Lohse to finish the season the same way he did last year. Lohse also threw a two-hitter in his final start of 2013, a 4-0 win at Atlanta. "Its weird," Lohse said. Rickie Weeks had a pair of singles and drove in a run, and Carlos Gomez had an RBI double off Daniel Corcino (0-2), who made his third start in the majors. The Brewers got a run in the fourth, but even that came with a misplay. Aramis Ramirez doubled, advanced on a groundout, and scored on Weeks single. Weeks was thrown out by more than 10 feet as hhe tried to stretch it to a double.dddddddddddd Gomez doubled home a run in the fifth, when the Brewers left the bases loaded. The Brewers loaded the bases again in the seventh with two outs, but Ramirez grounded out, keeping it 2-0. Billy Hamilton made the games best play. He stretched above the fence in centre to steal a home run away from Ryan Braun in the third inning, slamming the right side of his head hard against the fence. He held the side of his head as he left the field and came out of the game in the fifth with a mild concussion. REDS WIN REPLAY The Reds had a call overturned in the second inning, undercutting a rally. Weeks singled and was initially ruled safe at second on Lyle Overbays grounder to shortstop Zack Cozart, who tried for a forceout. The replay showed he was out. BAD AT GABP The Brewers have lost 13 of their last 19 games at Great American Ball Park and 31 of their last 45. The Brewers are 3-6 in Cincinnati this season. STATS Lohse was 2-1 in five starts against the Reds this season with a 2.13 ERA. ... It was Lohses 12th career complete game and his ninth career shutout. ... The Reds fell to 41-36 at home. ... It was Hannahans first multihit game since Sept. 1. ... In addition to give up six hits, Reds pitchers walked a season-high 10 batters. TRAINERS ROOM Brewers: Weeks started at second base in place of Scooter Gennett, who has been bothered by an injured right thigh. Gennett also will get off on Thursday. Reds: Right-handed starter Mat Latos is slowly recovering from a bruised right elbow that has sidelined him since Sept. 12. "Hes been able to throw but not completely pain-free," manager Bryan Price said. ON DECK Brewers: Milwaukee plays its final road game on Thursday. The Brewers are 40-40 on the road. Yovani Gallardo (8-10) is 0-4 in his last six starts. Reds: Left-hander David Holmberg (1-2) makes his fifth start of the season. His win came Sept. 13 in Milwaukee, when he went six innings and gave up two hits and one run in a 5-1 victory. Cheap Barcelona Jerseys Cheap Real Madrid Jerseys Authentic Cheap Bayern Munich Jerseys Cheap Dortmund Jerseys Cheap USA Jerseys Cheap USWNT Jerseys France Soccer Jerseys Soccer Mexico Jerseys Cheap Germany Jerseys Cheap Belgium Soccer Jerseys Brazil Jerseys From China Germany Jerseys From China Authentic Soccer Mexico Jerseys Cheap Portugal Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Spain Jerseys Cheap France Football Jerseys Cheap Germany Jerseys Authentic Cheap Mexico Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Colombia Jerseys Cheap Belgium Football Jerseys Wholesale Argentina Jerseys Cheap USA Soccer Jerseys China cheap uswnt jersey authentic Authentic AC Milan Jerseys Discount Arsenal Jerseys Wholesale A.S. Roma Jerseys Wholesale Atletico Madrid Jerseys Chelsea Jerseys From China Barcelona Jerseys From China Cheap Bayern Munich Jerseys Authentic Borussia Dortmund Jerseys Authentic Inter Milan Jerseys Authentic Juventus Jerseys Cheap Leicester City Jerseys Wholesale Liverpool Jerseys Authentic Manchester City Jerseys Authentic Manchester United Jerseys Cheap Paris Saint-Germain Jerseys Authentic Real Madrid Jerseys Sevilla Jerseys For Sale Tottenham Hotspur Jerseys Outlet ' ' '