Computer modelling of Corey Peter's sit-ski Photo: Supplied, University of Canterbury
When Paralympic skiier Corey Peters sped to the medal podium, he did so in a ground-breaking sit-ski designed by engineers at the University of Canterbury.
Corey took home two medals from the Beijing Paralympics - a gold in the Men's Downhill Sitting and silver in the Men's Super-G Sitting.
In mid 2020, the university was approached by Snow Sports NZ to improve the aerodynamic design of Peters' standard, off-the-shelf sit ski. Sit skis are made up of a seat and suspension system mounted to a single ski.
Mechanical Engineering Lecturer Dr Natalia Kabaliuk, along with three students used scaled down models, computer modelling and a wind tunnel to test out the design.
Expecting to get drag down by one to two percent at best, the team decreased the drag of the ski by a whopping 10 percent - a design that's being described as "world leading."
Dr Kabaliuk and Master's student Tessa Impey spoke to Kathryn Ryan about the project.
