Skiers competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo are equipped with wearable airbag vests designed to inflate during crashes and reduce severe injuries at high speed.
Italian protective equipment company Dainese spent years refining the system, which relies on sensors and GPS data to detect real falls, and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation has required the vests in speed events since the 2024-2025 World Cup season.
These safety efforts follow several serious accidents, including multiple injuries on the Stelvio World Cup downhill course at Bormio.
Organizers are also adding nets and larger run-off areas to training slopes and considering new technologies to try to limit leg injuries.