Use of photofinish as backup for Alpine Ski racing finish lines, the brainchild of Phoenix Sports, has been undergoing testing at world cup races for the past 4 years by Ted Savage at the events in Lake Louise and Kitzbuehel. Data collected was reviewed by FIS Timing Working Group in Zurich this fall and is now considered valid for backup to the photocells at FIS events.
Utilization of the camera time requires the averaging of the difference between camera and photocell for the 3 racers preceding the missing finish and can be used as a direct substitution of the finish impulse once the average differential is applied. Cameras must be running with a minimum precision of .001 and should also be synchronized with A and B system clocks. Look for this in the fall precisions.
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