How Do You Accurately Measure Ski Training Times?

Why Timing Matters in Ski Training

Ski racing is brutal on margins — hundredths of a second decide podiums. Athletes grind all season to shave off 0.05s. As coaches, our job is to give them honest, useful feedback they can trust.

That means timing matters. A lot.

But accurate timing shouldn’t mean setting up a science experiment every morning on the hill.

Photocells and Laser Gates: Better, But Still a Pain

A lot of ski clubs use laser timing or photocells. Accuracy improves, but so do the headaches:

• Setup is slow, especially in rough terrain

• Weather interference — snow, fog, and wind mess with the beam

• False triggers — skis or poles can stop the clock early

• Limited mobility — hard to switch between drills or locations

They sound good on paper. But real-world use is often frustrating — especially on a cold, windy hill with a dozen kids waiting.

World Cup Timing: Unrealistic for Training

The highest level — FIS races and World Cups — use certified photo-finish systems.

They’re awesome:

• Millisecond accuracy

• Rock-solid reliability

• No debate over times

But they come with big drawbacks:

• Fixed installations

• Specialized staff

• Price tags in the tens of thousands

They’re made for race day, not Tuesday morning GS drills.

What Coaches Actually Need

Most ski coaches don’t need gold-plated tech. We need something that works:

• Consistently — same timing points, every run

• Repeatably — so athletes can measure progress

• Practically — quick setup, small gear, works in mountain conditions

If your timing checks those three boxes, you’re set. If it doesn’t, it’s noise.

Why Consistency Beats Perfection

We’re not asking:

“Was it 48.13 or 48.15?”

We’re asking:

“Was this run faster than last week?”

“Did that new line, new wax, or new ski make a difference?”

That’s why repeatability is more important than absolute precision. If your timing setup gives you consistent comparisons, you can coach with confidence.

Where Freelap Fits In

This is where Freelap earns its keep.

• Wireless & portable → No wires, no tripods, no clutter

• Built for the elements → Cold? Snow? Wind? No problem

• Fast setup → Drop your transmitters, clip on the chip, and go

• Accurate & consistent → Measures at the skier’s center of mass

• Scalable → Time full runs, sections, or even drills mid-course

Instead of babysitting laser beams, you get to focus on coaching — and your athletes get timing they can actually trust.

That’s why top ski academies, national teams, and local clubs worldwide are using Freelap.

Practical Takeaways for Ski Coaches

In The End

So, how do you accurately time ski training?

• Photocells? Too finicky.

• Photo-finish? Unrealistic.

Freelap hits the sweet spot — it’s portable, consistent, weather-tough, and accurate enough to guide real coaching decisions.

And most importantly: it doesn’t get in the way of the work.

Click her if you want to see how Freelap works on snow?