Para-Alpine athletes take on wind tunnel testing

Georgia Gunew testing in the wind tunnel. Photo Jan Vokaty

It has been a busy week for Snow Australia’s Para Alpine team who flew to Adelaide to take part in aerodynamics testing at the Australian Centre for Sports Aerodynamics (ASCA). 

Taking advantage of the opportunity to access the state-of-the-art low-speed open-jet sports wind tunnel, in a first-ever for the Alpine team, they tested out the facility designed and built to support the ambitions of Australian sports teams and athletes helping to deliver podium performances at Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

Athletes who tested at the SASI facility in Adelaide were Josh Hanlon (sitting), Sam Tait (sitting), Georgia Gunew (visually impaired) and Ethan Jackson (guide for Georgia Gunew), who are all competing on the FIS Para Alpine World Cup Circuit this season in Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom and Slalom.

The athletes and coaches utilised the wind tunnel, aiming to assess and improve aerodynamic efficiency, which is crucial for maximising speed and minimising drag in both training and competition.

Subtle adjustments that could yield significant time gains were identified through the testing's focus on refining body positioning, ski equipment and racing suits. 

Athletes were able to refine positions at wind speeds ranging from 50-110km/h, which mimics the race environment for Giant Slalom, Super G and Downhill events. 

In high-speed sports like alpine skiing, even a small improvement in aerodynamic drag - as little as 1-2% - can shave off critical milliseconds, which can be the difference between winning a medal and missing the podium.

As the team head to Europe next month to finalise their preparations for the first races of the season (Super-G at Steinach-Am-Brenner in Austria), they will be taking the learnings from the wind tunnel sessions to their on-snow training sessions. 

By leveraging the cutting-edge ASCA facility at the South Australian Institute of Sport, the team is enhancing their preparations for the upcoming World Cup season and World Championships in February, with a longer vision to the Paralympic Winter Games in Milano-Cortina in March of 2026, where every fraction of a second matters.

Sam Tait. Photo Jan Vokaty