It’s not just the pros at the Hahnenkamm Race - recreational skiers also play it safe with the FIS label.

Ski edges are razor-sharp. Yet when most people think of skiing accidents, they think of broken bones and ligament injuries. However, cuts are often serious, and blood loss can quickly become life-threatening.

The German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research in Denkendorf (DITF) conduct cut resistance tests on materials for the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) and for textile manufacturers. If the materials pass the tests, they receive the FIS label on a 5-star scale.

To earn this quality label, ski underwear must pass rigorous tests: DITF scientists measure the force required to cut through the ski underwear with a freshly sharpened ski edge.

The fabric must withstand a cut of at least 20 centimeters in length at angles of 0, 45, and 90 degrees to the ski edge. The test simulates a cut to an arm or leg with a force of up to 500 N (50 kilograms).

The cutting speed is also precisely defined. To ensure comparable data, the same type of ski is used for every test, and its edges are always ground to exactly the same specifications.

If the underwear withstands a force of 100 N (10 kilograms), it is awarded one star. For every additional 100 N, another star is awarded - up to a maximum of five stars.