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Skeleton team races the wind

17 August 2005

The Australian Women's Skeleton team has undergone aerodynamic testing in one of Monash University's wind tunnels in preparation for the Torino Winter Olympics in Italy.

Australian Women's Skeleton competitor Ms Michelle Steele undergoes aerodynamic testing in one of Monash's wind tunnels.

The little-known winter sport involves competitors sliding down a track head-first on a small sled.

The four-member team was tested in full race gear, including sleds and helmets, to determine whether different body positions could decrease wind resistance and lead to better race times.

Monash houses several wind tunnels, one of which is the biggest in the southern hemisphere.

Aerodynamicist Mr Scott Wordley, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said the tunnel recreated race conditions.

"We measured the distance and angle of the track where they'll be competing to find the speed they'll be travelling at and then matched that wind force, which was up to 120km/h," Mr Wordley said.

"We built a special rig to mount the sled and athlete in the wind tunnel, which allowed us to record the drag force."

Mr Wordley said with the wind tunnel testing, the athletes were able to reduce drag by between 5 and 10 per cent.

"The hard part will be for the team to find and remember the new positions when they're competing," he said.

"We believe Australia's technology in Skeleton will be as good as the rest of the world's come the next Winter Olympics."

The Australian Women's Skeleton team, part of an Australian Institute of Sport talent identification program, has been training for 11 months and is considered of international standard.

Trials for the Winter Olympics begin in October, and the athletes will learn in January whether they have qualified.

Australian downhill skier A J Bear is using Monash's wind tunnel today as part of his preparation for the Winter Olympics.

The wind tunnels have also been used to test the aerodynamic forces of a Formula 1 racing car, V8 Supercar teams and the remodelling of the Spencer Street train station.