What? No finish line?

[RobertScorpio]

Watching all the wipeouts on the ski slopes, my son asked me what would happen if EVERY skiier wiped out? Would the winner be decided on who made it furthest down the course without wiping out? Silly, I know...but hey..he's just five..

Rob

 

[Roger Wilco]

No, the race would simply be re-started, possibly on the next day or so. I think a certain number of participants have to finish for the race to count - at least if you're talking about an "official" race like in the Olympics, World Cup, etc.

They don't even really have the equipment to do what your son suggested, the skiiers aren't tracked continuously; their time only gets measured at a certain number of spots along the course (three or four times or so). The officials would have no way of even telling for sure how far exactly a skiier got.

Sorry if my answer isn't very funny.

 

[RobertScorpio]

No, the race would simply be re-started, possibly on the next day or so. I think a certain number of participants have to finish for the race to count - at least if you're talking about an "official" race like in the Olympics, World Cup, etc.

They don't even really have the equipment to do what your son suggested, the skiiers aren't tracked continuously; their time only gets measured at a certain number of spots along the course (three or four times or so). The officials would have no way of even telling for sure how far exactly a skiier got.

Sorry if my answer isn't very funny.

not at all..it made sense and I explained it to him like that, so thanks! A crazy question, to be sure, but if you've ever had kids you know they are full of them...

Rob