VARS (FRANCE) - Italian Simone Origone on Friday bettered his own world speed skiing record when he raced to a top speed of 252.632 kilometres per hour (156.978 mph).
File photo shows Italian Simone Origone competing in the men's FIS speed skiing world championships in Vars, France on January 22, 2009
Origone's eye-watering effort down the specially groomed Chabrieres piste in the French resort of Vars bettered his previous best of 252.454 kph set in March 2014.
Windy conditions forced the 35-year-old to reduce his start by 25 metres from the optimal peak of Chabrieres, which has a 98 percent gradient at its steepest point.
Origone had already clocked the third fastest time ever, 251.397 km/h, on Thursday.
Later Friday, France's Edmond Plawczyk set a new world speed record for the snowboard of 203.275 kph.