Professional downhill skiiers race down a ski hill as quickly as they can.  It is simply a race of raw speed.  Although there really is no agreement on the top speed during an actual downhill race, it is generally believed that downhill skiiers reach speeds of up to 130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour.

The downhill race during the Winter Olympics will probably be decided by speeds of 130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour, or even slightly faster.  Speeds of up to 145 kilometers (90 miles) per hour have been recorded by radar guns, which have been set up at the fastest section of a downhill run.

The top speed ever recorded during a downhill competition is 155 kilometers (97 miles) per hour by Klaus Kroell of Austria, while racing in Switzerland.