How Fast, How Far, How Big? Skiing’s Most Incredible Records

We all remember that moment - pointing the skis downhill, picking up speed, and wondering how fast is too fast? For most of us, the answer comes pretty quickly. For a small group of skiers, though, the answer is… 255 km/h.

Here are some of the wildest records ever set on snow, from eye-watering speeds to gravity-defying jumps, and a reminder of just how far skiing can be pushed.

French speed skier Simon Billy set the world record in March 2023, reaching an astonishing 255.5 km/h (158.7 mph). To put that into perspective, most recreational skiers cruise somewhere between 30–60 km/h. At Billy’s speed, you’d cover the length of a football pitch in just over a second. The women’s record is not far behind, with Valentina Greggio clocking 248.27 km/h (154.29 mph), proof that when it comes to speed skiing, the limits are still being pushed.

If speed isn’t your thing, how about stamina? The Vasaloppet in Sweden is the world’s oldest and longest cross-country ski race - a 90km journey that’s been running since 1922. The fastest time? Just 3 hours 28 minutes, set by Norway’s Tord Asle Gjerdalen. That’s the equivalent of skiing from breakfast to lunch… without stopping.

Ski jumping takes things to another level entirely. The longest ski jump ever recorded is 254.5 metres, set by Slovenia’s Domen Prevc in Slovenia. That’s roughly the length of 21 London buses lined up end to end, all travelled through the air, on skis. And suddenly, that little hop off the side of a piste doesn’t seem quite so bold.

Not all records are about distance or speed, some are about pushing what’s physically possible. In 2017, Swiss freestyle skier Andri Ragettli landed the first ever quad cork 1800 on skis - four off-axis flips combined with five full rotations. Yes, really.

And then there’s Swedish skier Jesper Tjäder, who spent six years and more than 120 attempts chasing the longest rail slide, finally landing a world record of 154.49 metres. Proof that sometimes, it’s not just talent, it’s persistence.

The mountains inspire more than just skiing. In Zermatt, a team of 18 people spent three weeks building the world’s largest igloo, measuring 10.5 metres high, about the height of a double-decker bus.

And if you prefer your records a little more luxurious, the most expensive skis ever made, a collaboration between Zai and Saint Laurent, come in at around $10,000 (£6,600). A long way from the rental shop.

So… where do you fit in?

You don’t need to break records to feel the magic of the mountains. A perfectly timed turn. Fresh snow under your skis. That last run as the lifts are about to close. That’s more than enough.

But next time you find yourself picking up speed on a wide-open piste, just remember… somewhere, someone is doing it five times faster.