A consortium led by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials is looking at creating custom-optimized ski sledges for use by the competitors in the cross-country and biathlon skiers competing in the 2014 Winter Paralympics. This could involve filming the competitors as they go through their racing motions on a standard sledge, and where the data is utilized to create a bio-mechanical model of the athlete to create a customized sledge. Will this give certain athletes an edge? Perhaps, but it could also just increase the spirit of competition.
[Via Fraunhofer Media Release: Optimized custom-made ski sledges]