Why Do Heavier Skiers Go Faster?

Friction between ski and snow is very small, so the main drag on speed is the wall of air in front of the skier. ... Other factors being equal, a heavier skier is faster than a lighter one because his air resistance is lower. So a skier can go faster by increasing mass--becoming as heavy as possible for his frame.

Do heavier people go faster?

'When you increase the mass the speed increases by cubic function, whereas if you increase the aerodynamic drag the speed decreases by a square function. Hence why cyclists who are heavier can go faster,' Fonda says.

Does a large mass necessarily cause a skier to go faster explain your answer?

A greater mass means a greater force of gravity acting on the skier, which means that the relative magnitude of F_D becomes smaller. As a result, the skier reaches a greater velocity v.