Ski Race Suits

History of Ski Racing Suits

Ski racing suits have undergone a drastic evolution since skiing has evolved to become the highly competitive sport it is today. What started as an emphasis on layering, which enabled versatility in the 19th century, evolved into an ever-increasing focus on aerodynamics, stretchy material, and safety. While vintage ski suits featured multiple layers, as time progressed a drive to improve ski suit technology took hold, largely driven by World War I and World War II in the early 20th century, and later by fashion and ski apparel brands in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The development of spandex, Gore-Tex, and molded plastics enabled a multifaceted focus on safety, performance, and fashion in modern ski racing suits.

Ski Racing Suits: Downhill vs. GS

While traditional downhill ski suits are focused on aerodynamics, giant slalom -- or GS suits -- focus more on safety. GS suits have built-in padding that protects skiers from injury when they hit the gates during an event. Both types of ski racing suits are made from material that stretches and must be sized to fit properly to ensure safety and performance. Suits are cut differently for kids, men, and women, respectively, and usually range from XS to 3XL, depending on the brand. For example, people between 59” and 62”, between 85-100 lbs. will be XS while those over 75” in height will be XL (or more, depending on their weight). All manufacturers will provide highly specific sizing charts based on a number of body measurements.

Best Ski Racing Suits

Given the long history of ski racing, many brands have entered the market, offering a large array of ski racing suits at various price points. Top brands such as Spyder and Arctica sell both downhill and GS suits for men, women, and children and make sizing easy with helpful charts. A variety of styles are available, from geometric patterns to superhero-inspired designs, to fit anyone’s taste.

US Ski Team Race Suits

For all you racers out there, you can find race suits from the US Ski Team on SidelineSwap. They’ll have you feeling like you’re heading for the Olympics -- and maybe you are! With many designs, styles and different protective measures, finding a US Ski Team suit to fit your needs will be easy. Whether you need a suit with maximum aerodynamics for downhill, or ample protection for giant slalom, the US Ski Team cuts no corners when it comes to the quality of their suits. Getting the right size is important when looking at these suits, as the contour of the suit provides a compression-like fit to keep you warm and help your muscles activate properly.