SKIING : They Can Show Off Real Speed

Downhill racers often average in excess of 65 m.p.h. in their two-minute runs down some of the world’s most challenging mountains, but that’s just cruising along by the standards of Steve McKinney and his fellow speed skiers.

McKinney, brother of former World Cup Alpine champion Tamara McKinney, has hit 131 m.p.h. and held the world record on a couple of occasions. Now, he is the coach of the U.S. World Cup speed skiing team, which will be selected after this weekend’s McKinney Speed Challenge at Kirkwood, located on California 88 south of Lake Tahoe.

Speed skiing has been designated as a demonstration event in the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, so the top finishers at Kirkwood will be among the leading candidates for a trip to Albertville, France, two years from now.

The speed track is in Eagle Bowl, served by Chairlift No. 10, and after the hotshots make their runs, aiming at the world record of 139.03 m.p.h. today and Saturday, recreational skiers can take a crack at it on Sunday--starting from lower down the hill.

The Jimmie Heuga Ski Express, in which three-skier teams try to pile up a total of 1 million vertical feet on one day, will be held at Mammoth Mountain March 1-2 and at Snow Summit March 3-4.

Proceeds from the event, sponsored this year by Mazda, will benefit the Jimmie Heuga Center for the physically challenged in Vail, Colo. Heuga, the 1964 Olympic slalom bronze medalist, was later found to have multiple sclerosis but has continued skiing and follows a rigorous physical regimen.

More information on the Mammoth portion may be obtained by calling (619) 934-4184, and on the Snow Summit portion by calling (213) 697-8941.

More than 300 athletes from 18 nations are expected to participate in the World Disabled Ski Championships, beginning today at Winter Park, Colo.

Races will be held for men and women in all five Alpine disciplines, with skiers competing in various categories according to their abilities. This is the first time the event has been held outside Europe, and Winter Park, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is a fitting location because of its 20-year history of supporting a program for disabled skiers.

The opening ceremony will be held at First Interstate Bank Plaza in Denver, as will be the closing ceremony on March 6.