He is the fastest man in the world – well the fastest without the boost of an engine. Skis, the slopes and the pulling power of gravity are all Simone Origone needs to smash world records.
On Friday the Italian was at it again on French soil – well it’s there underneath all that snow.
He raced to an incredible 252.632 kilometres per hour – that’s 156.978 miles per hour in old money.
Origone’s eye-watering effort down the specially groomed Chabrieres piste in the French resort of Vars bettered his previous best of 252.254 kph set in March last year.
Windy conditions forced the 35-year-old to reduce his start by 25 metres from the optimal peak of Chabrieres which has a 98 percent gradient at its steepest point.
That means the Italian, who started skiing when he was just three was hurtling down an all but sheer mountain side.
He had already clocked the third fastest time in the history of the sport on Thursday before his incredible feat on Friday.
