In 1930, Dr. Walter Amstuzt wanted to find out how fast one could ski, so he created a unique competition in Switzerland, the kilometre lancé, or KL. Two years later Austria's Leo Gasper set the world record at 139.6 km/h.

In 1974 an American, Steve McKinney, was the first person to break the 200-km/h mark. KL was a demonstration discipline at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. Frenchman Michael Prufer and Finland's Tarja Mularin are the only Olympic KL champions in history because the event has since been taken off the program. Today, the world's fastest man and woman on skis are Italy's Simone Origone (251.40 km/h) and Sweden's Sanna Tidstrand (242.59 km/h), respectively.

Their achievements are "50% based on equipment and 50% on the human being" says Michael Prufer. The secret of success sounds simple: "From 0 to 180 km/h, you have to slide as best as possible flat on the skis, which weigh around 15 kilos, measure 2.40 meters and have anti-vibration systems. Then you stand on the edges to limit disruptive upper-body movements that act like aerodynamic brakes. The feeling is very subtle". The rest is technological: granular paint on the helmet to reduce turbulence, wind-tunnel tests, tapered ailerons behind the calves, double-skin suit, etc. Ready? Go!