Steel shines across all fields of sports, especially in fencing — because for professional fencers, quality steel can not only save a match but also a life.

How does steel increase fencers’ ability to compete safely? Let’s dive deep into the story of steel and fencing — POSCO Newsroom presents worldsteel, “Maraging Steel Delivers World’s Finest Fencing Blades.”

Due to its strength, flexibility and extreme toughness, professional fencers will only compete using swords made from maraging steel

US two-time Olympian fencer Lee Kiefer, has what is known in fencing circles as a ‘killing flicking riposte’. From the French for ‘retort’, the riposte is an offensive fencing action made to hit your opponent after blocking an attack.

But what makes Kiefer’s riposte special is her spectacular flick, in which she whips her fencing blade to drastically bend it, so she can hit opponents in hard-to-reach places. The diminutive fencer has used her killer riposte again and again to win medal after medal, and it wouldn’t be possible without her maraging steel blade.

“Thirty years ago we didn’t really have this flicking action – it was just so rare to see, as the quality of the blade wouldn’t permit this,” says Eric Mallet, fencing master and former member of France’s Junior National team, now running the Austin Fencing Club in Texas.

“But now we have flashy fencers that carry out actions that are so physically impressive,” he adds. “The reason they can do this is down to the blade they use.”

Maraging steel first came to the fore in fencing following the death of Soviet fencer, Vladimir Smirnov, in 1982. During the Rome Championships, his opponent’s blade broke and penetrated his mesh mask, piercing his eye and brain. His death, nine days later, prompted safety improvements in fencing gear, including the use of maraging steel in blade production.

l The Cutting Edge

With roots in aviation, maraging steel is a high-strength alloy made with around 18% nickel and lesser amounts of cobalt, molybdenum, titanium and aluminium.

This combination of alloying elements stops titanium carbide precipitates from forming during heat-treatments as part of the manufacturing process. This in turn preserves the alloy’s amazing impact strength, ductility and toughness.

As Ben Paul, co-owner of UK-based fencing equipment manufacturer, Leon Paul, highlights: “Thanks to its chemical composition, the blade typically lasts four times longer than a carbon steel version, so straight away you’re reducing the chance of injury.”

Indeed, when microcracks inevitably form on the blade during swordplay, maraging steel slows the cracks from spreading. This slow propagation of cracks preserves the steel’s rare combination of high strength and toughness, which for fencers is critical.

“A maraging blade can be bent to absolutely ridiculous levels before fracturing”

According to Mallet, before maraging steel, a fencer was lucky if his or her blade lasted six months. Today, the blade can endure around two fencing seasons.

“Regular steel blades could also break suddenly with a sharp angle that was very dangerous for the fencer – maraging blades don’t do this,” he adds. “When you have a sword in your hand that is working well, it gives you this confidence that you just didn’t have years ago.”

And for Paul, this steel is the difference between winning and losing. “A maraging blade can be bent to absolutely ridiculous levels before fracturing,” he says. “This means fencers can make these incredible flick hits that are almost undefendable, if performed correctly.”

l Made to Measure

Leon Paul has made maraging steel blades at its London-based forge since the 1980s and is one of only a handful of manufacturers worldwide making swords from scratch.

Three types of fencing weapon exist, each featuring different blade designs. The ‘foil’ is a thrusting weapon with a rectangular blade designed to bend on impact, while the ‘epee’ is similar to the foil but has a triangular blade. The ‘sabre’, with its flat blade, is designed for cutting as well as thrusting.

To make the blade, a steel rod is cut to the correct length according to sword-type and then heated by induction coils so that it’s malleable, ready for hammering into shape while still red hot. After air-cooling, the blades are hardened and tempered in blisteringly hot salt bath ovens to impart the much-loved springy yet strong properties.

In a final step, the cooled blades are pelted with glass beads – a process known as shot-peening – to further strengthen the weapons and improve surface finish.

Many years ago we experimented with fibre-glass blades and it was horrible…right now, maraging steel really is ‘it’

According to Ben Paul, his factory fabricates around 15,000 swords a year with a multitude of designs to suit different fencing styles. “Making the blade thinner at the tip or thicker at the base alters how it feels for an athlete,” he says. “If you have a light, thin blade then you tend to be an attacking-type player, but if your blade is heavier then you can be more defensive and hit on the counterattack.”

Slow-motion footage of blades on test rigs is used to guide design, with videos providing valuable details on how weapons could react during a fencing bout. As Paul adds: “We can now start to see how different forces on a blade will make it react, as it bends or curves.”

So, where next for the maraging steel blade? Right now, Leon Paul is looking at milling tiny holes in a blade to make it lighter, while France-based manufacturer, Blaise Frères, has developed a new blade-coating, again to save on weight.

And while manufacturers have toyed with alternative blade materials such as carbon-fibre, Paul is certain the traditional sport of fencing will “never move away from steel”.

Fencing master, Mallet, clearly agrees. “Many years ago, we experimented with fibre-glass blades and it was horrible… you had zero-response, it was very bland and very awkward,” he says. “Right now, maraging steel really is ‘it’.”

Images: iStock
Video: Leon Paul

The original content published on the worldsteel’s ‘Our Stories’ section is available at: https://stories.worldsteel.org/innovation/maraging-steel-olympic-fencing-blades/

Technology isn’t just securing the safety. Also boosts athlete’s motivation

Pride of the Korean-Made

The passion of the athletes seen at The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games is unforgettable. It is to this end that POSCO has devoted itself to supporting athletes with disabilities.

When it comes to sports, even small improvements in technology or changes to the gear may bring about huge differences. Having supported the national para ice hockey team since 2016, POSCO developed lightweight sledges with improved tolerance shock absorption for the Korean para ice hockey team so that the athletes could focus more on the game. This made POSCO the first company in Korea to manufacture athletic gear for national Paralympic teams. Equipped with motivation and new gear, the Korean para ice hockey team achieved an amazing Bronze medal in The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

SEE ALSO: Parallel: Shining a Spotlight on the Korean National Para Ice Hockey Team

With memories of The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games still fresh, South Korea recently observed the National Day of Persons with Disabilities on April 20. In recognition of this day, POSCO interviewed Jin-Owan Jung, head officer at the Korea Paralympic Committee Icheon Training Center and manager of the Korean Paralympic team the man who led the Korean team at The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games and one who both understands and represents the interests of people with disabilities in Korea.

“It’s Not Just About Overcoming Your Disability But Accepting It.- Jin Owan, Jung”

He emphasized the recognition and acceptance rather than struggling

Accept who you really are

Jin-Owan Jung was 22 years old when a car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down in 1987. Undeterred by the accident, Jung set his eyes on becoming an athlete for the Paralympics when he saw the Seoul Paralympic Games in 1998. He won 2 medals – a gold and a bronze – in Shooting in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics Games. After retiring as an athlete, his passion for sports drove him to take on a new role in administration. The experiences gained as a Para sport athlete and also by interacting with others with disabilities, gave him a perception that acceptance of one’s disability is more important than struggling to overcome it.

He agrees that the situation is getting better but still needs more support such as financial aspects

You are not alone

The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games was a huge success in that the athletes’ passion inspired positive change in the society’s views toward people with disabilities. Jung noted that the infrastructure for people with disabilities in The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games was much improved in comparison to past games. However, he believes there is still room for improvement. Additional and sustainable social support is necessary to ensure those with disabilities can enjoy living conditions equal to those of other citizens and have an equal share in the development of their societies.

POSCO supports not only their technology but also financial aid

How to support?

Jung explains, “Financial support is not everything but it is important in certain circumstances.” POSCO has been a proud sponsor of athletes with disabilities and has provided roughly $2.6 million in support of Para sport since 2011. This year, POSCO donated $370,000 to the Korean Paralympic team in honor of their effort and passion.

‘Harmony’ is the element that POSCO will promise for better society

Jung believes that sports might be the key to resolving discrimination against people with disabilities. However, this can only be accomplished with active contribution from supporters. POSCO will continue to support Jin-Owan Jung’s dream of achieving social harmony and creating a society where having a disability does not impede one’s quality of life.

So, what do these athletes from all over the world competing in various different sports have in common? They all rely on steel to enhance their performance and keep them safe while they compete for the highest honors in their profession.

Here are some of the most prominent ways steel plays its part in winter Olympic sports:

Blades/Edges of Steel

Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is easily the main attraction of winter Olympics as hockey finals are usually the last events of the Games. The same can be said of para ice hockey as well. Athletes glide through the rink on specially-made sledges, or sleds, and have as much, if not more, full-contact than regular ice hockey.

Stainless steel is the material of choice for ice hockey skate blades. (Source: FXBX)

There are several pieces of equipment that enable hockey players to perform at their best, including their skates and sleds. The deciding factor in the quality of skates comes down to the type of steel used in the blades, or runners. Harder types of steel are preferred for less wear and tear and so that athletes do not have to sharpen the blades too often.

That’s why most opt for stainless steel, for its high-strength, hard, ductile and corrosion-resistant qualities. For para ice hockey players, their sleds make or break the game, and materials like magnesium, high-manganese anti-vibration steel and stainless steel give them the edge they need.

SEE ALSO: How POSCO’s Advanced Technology Gives Speed to Korea’s Para Ice Hockey Team

Figure Skating

Blades on figure skates look similar to that of hockey skates, but are longer and heavier. Figure skate blades also have the thickest type of blades at 4 to 5mm. These blades were most commonly made of tempered carbon steel coated with chrome, but lighter materials such as stainless steel are becoming more common. At the professional level, many athletes wear skates with high-grade steels that are much more expensive than common skates. A distinct characteristic of these blades is the spiked front toe which gives figure skaters the traction they need for rigorous jumps and spins.

Figure skates have spiked toes to assist jumps and spins. (Source: Bend Source)

Short and Speed Skating

Like blades for hockey and figure skates, short track and speed skates are also made of stainless steel. Short track skates are slightly curved and shorter than speed skates, with slightly rounded backends for safety.  

Figure skates have spiked toes to assist jumps and spins. (Source: International Skating Union)

Speed skates are different from those for short track because the back-end of the blade is detached from the boot. this reduces friction and energy loss. Also, the detached blade allows the blade to remain attached to the ice longer than attached blades.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Steel also plays a crucial part in the construction of ski and snowboard edges. With high-quality steel, athletes can sharpen the edges more frequently, and sharp edges are crucial for carving and turning on snow. Edges are most commonly made of stainless steel, and they are inserted into the body of the ski or snowboard via “teeth” or T-shaped ridges. Most edges have a Rockwell 48 hardness.

Ski and snowboard edges are made of steel to achieve maximum sharpness. (Source: YouTube)

Rock-hard Skeleton, Ultra Sharp Blades

Bobsled

There are several variations of bobsled events during the Olympics: 2-man, 4-man and women’s doubles. No matter how many people are on a team, each bobsled has a steel chassis or skeleton and four steel blades attached to the bottom of the sleds. Every team must use the same type of steel for blades used in competition. Much like a car, materials that make up the bobsled must be lightweight yet strong so the athletes have the freedom to steer through the track. During competition, sleds slide through at an average speed of 150 km/hr.

Ski and snowboard edges are made of steel to achieve maximum sharpness. (Source: Lake Placid)

SEE ALSO: Ask an Expert: How POSCO GIGA STEEL Frames the G4 Rexton

Luge

The luge is considered to be the most dangerous winter Olympic sport due to high speeds and sharp turns of the track. After push off in a seated position, the person or pair lies flat on their backs and steer the sleds with their bodies. Sleds have a pair of steel blades attached to the bottom. Olympic rules prohibit teams from heating the blades before competition as it would decrease friction against ice. Instead, athletes try to maintain the sharpest blades possible.

The Luge is one of the most dangerous winter Olympic sports. (Source: Team GB)

Skeleton

Opposite of the luge, skeleton athletes race flat on their stomachs, with no brakes. Instead of starting on the sled, the athletes have to sprint for about 40 meters before hopping on. All skeleton sled frames must be made of steel, and blades are usually made of high-quality stainless steel. As for all the “sliding” sports, there are strict rules for the size and weight of the sleds.

Skeleton athletes sprint 40 meters before jumping on their sleds stomach first. (Source: MPR News)

POSCO values the contributions from its female workers and their role in its success. In the past, The Steel Wire has looked at women in the steel industry as well as a few of the women who have had a lasting impact at POSCO. Please check out the in-depth interviews with Yukyung Lee, Group Leader of Iron Ore Group of the Raw Materials Department; Mihwa Park, Head of the Information Planning Department; Young Choi, Vice President of PR at POSCO Daewoo; and Lee Yoon Hee, Vice President of POSRI.

Today, in honor of International Women’s Day, we want to take a moment to celebrate three women who broke barriers in their own male-dominated fields. Their hard work, perseverance, and dedication allowed the world to recognize and acknowledge the capabilities of women.

Alice Peurala, Woman of Steel Who Fought for Gender Parity in Steel Industry

Women have long been a minority in the metals and mining industries (Catalyst noted in 2015 it was at just 13.3% in the U.S.). However, thanks to the efforts of women like  Alice Peurala, many more rights and protections are afforded to them today.

Alice Peurala was the first and only female to head a steel unit (Source: Daily Kos)

Alice Peurala, the first woman to head a steel unit, played a vital role in the steel industry during WWII. Peurala was one of the first female steelworkers who entered Chicago’s South Works mill in 1953 when there were only a few women left in the field. Most of the women who had steel jobs as a result of WWII had been let go when the men returned home. Those who remained, including Alice Peurala, faced gender discrimination in hiring and promotion. Having been an activist in the civil rights movement, she was determined to transform the steel industry into a more comfortable workplace for female employees.

“I did not win as a woman. I campaigned as a candidate who would do something about conditions in the plant that affect 7500 people – men and women.” – Alice Peurala

When Peurala was denied a promotion from her job in the Metallurgical Division to a job in a product testing lab in 1967 because people thought she was ineligible for a job that required overtime and heavy lifting, she sued the mill at the recommendation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Due to her unwavering efforts, a compromise settlement was reached and in 1969, Peurala finally got her promotion. Her successful lawsuits against gender discrimination and the dictatorial control of the steel company owners were indeed a victory for all women in manufacturing. Alice eventually won the presidency of the Local 65 in 1979 and left an impressive legacy as a fighter for women’s rights.

Raye Montague, The First Person to Design Computerized Ships for Navy 

Raye Montague, the first female Program Manager of Ships in the U.S. Navy, not only shattered the glass ceiling as a black woman in the then male-dominated Navy but also the first person who single-handedly changed the way the U.S. Navy designed and used ships.

Growing up, she was often ridiculed for wanting to become a female engineer and was even denied entry into the University of Arkansas because the school did not allow minority enrollment at that time; however, she did not let gender or race barriers discourage her.

Raye Montague revolutionized the design process for all naval ships and submarines in under 19 hours in 1970. (Image courtesy of thv11.com)

She taught herself how computers worked and rose in the ranks for 14 years to become a computer systems analyst at the Naval Ship Engineering Center.  In 1970, she showed the world that women were just as capable as men in the male-dominated Navy by revolutionizing the design process for all naval ships and submarines – a task she famously completed under 19 hours even though she was given a month by her boss.

Montague retired in 1990 and entered the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 2013. After the award-winning film Hidden Figures was released, which tells the true story of three African-American women who helped the U.S. space program at NASA, Montague appeared on Good Morning America and sparked interest in her story as another true “hidden figure” during that same era, whose dedication and unwavering commitment became an inspiration to all women.

Billie Jean King, Breaking Records and Gender Barriers

Long a champion for social justice and gender equality, Billie Jean King is a 39 time Grand Slam winner and an American former world #1 professional tennis player. She transformed the world for not only female sports players but also for the LGBT community.

In 1973, King famously threatened to boycott the U.S. Open unless the winner of the ladies singles was awarded the same prize money as the men’s champion. Thanks to her efforts, the U.S. Open became the first major tournament to offer equal prize money to women and men.

That same year King famously defeated men’s former world No.1 Bobby Riggs in a match later dubbed “Battle of the Sexes” in the Houston Astrodome proving to the world that women could compete with men in any arena. In the most viewed U.S. tennis match of all time with more than 50 million Americans tuned in to watch, King beat Riggs, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 for the USD 100,000 winner-take-all prize. More importantly, the match turned King into arguably the first superstar female athlete in the U.S. Later this year Emma Stone and Steve Carell will adapt this story for the big screen, helping to reignite the excitement of King’s win in 1973.

King also became the first prominent female athlete to come out as gay in 1981 and continued to advocate for gender equality and the LGBT community even after leaving tennis in 1983. In 1990 was named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by Life Magazine and in 2009, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award for her massive contribution to improving gender equality on the tennis court.

King’s demands for equal treatment and equal pay helped pave the way for future stars such as Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, and Serena Williams, the latter who broke barriers of her own at the 2017 Australian Open by winning her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, the most of any player in the Open Era.

“It’s not about the money, it’s about the message we send. We are sending the equality message out that this is the right thing to do. Yes, the men are better than us in some ways. Yes, we’re better in some ways. It doesn’t matter. Don’t you want to share in this world? I do.” – Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King photographed by ©Lynn Gilbert 1978, New York. (Source: Lynn Gilbert)

On International Women’s Day, POSCO honors these three remarkable women who made major contributions in their fields at a time when female participation was incredibly difficult. The bravery and dedication of these women, along with so much more around us who have broken through barriers to ensure gender equality are, and will continue to be,  a source of inspiration for all.

Cover Image Courtesy of Alfred T. Palmer, U.S. Office of War Information.

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Almost everyone can picture a sports stadium, an airport, or a bridge – we have all either been in, at or on one of them at one point in our lives. A huge football stadium that can close its roof, an airport by the sea that is impervious to corrosion, and a glass-bottomed bridge that allows only the most steel-hearted of pedestrians to look deep into one of the most famous canyons on earth – all made possible through innovations in steel.

Rolling Back the Roof at NRG Stadium

This year’s pro-football championship game between Atlanta and New England will be held at Houston’s NRG Stadium where hardcore Falcons and Patriots fans are rushing to get their hands on some of the few tickets left. Tickets are reselling for an average of $5,101, but if you want a view from the 50 yard-line it is going to set you back USD $11,000 to $12,000.

NRG Stadium, completed in 2002, is famous for being the first-ever NFL stadium with a retractable roof – allowing events to be held in open air or air-conditioned comfort.

The Houston Texans play at NRG Stadium (formerly Reliant), November 18, 2007. (Photo courtesy of Ed Schipul)

Designed to utilize the principles of kinetic architecture, the roof is able to open and close without reducing the overall structural integrity. The roof’s panels are 117m x 152m and supported by two sections of five trusses each that meet at the 50-yard line. These two sections are supported by two supertrusses that run for almost 300m each along the field’s sidelines. Along each supertruss is a wheel rail to guide the roof as it opens and closes, in as little as 10 minutes.

With so many moving parts, the retractable roof represents an amazing feat of engineering. The steel beams, trusses, and motors weigh thousands of pounds, but it is still able to zip open in a few minutes. Come rain or come shine, ticketholders will be able to stay dry until the winner raises the Lombardi Trophy at the big game on Monday.

Stainless Steel at Incheon International Airport
With over 49 million passengers each year, Incheon International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, and consistently ranked as one of the best. Internationally praised for its remarkable facilities and services, which include a spa, golf course, movie theater, museum, and ice skating rink; the airport also prides itself on its efficient design.

A bird’s-eye view of the second passenger terminal at Incheon International Airport. Because of its non-corrosive properties and stylish appearance, POSCO’s 446M steel will be used as an exterior material.

When the first passenger terminal was built in 2001, they decided to use POSCO’s 446M stainless steel. The 446M steel contains high amounts of chromium (26%) and molybdenum (2%), which gives it superior corrosion resistance – excellent for use in exterior construction near coastal areas, like Incheon.

Seventeen years after the construction of the first terminal, there have been little signs of corrosion. So, as preparations began for a new second terminal, the airport decided to use the same type of stainless steel. Also, a bead blast process will be applied to the steel that will give it a rough texture to lower the reflectivity rate for aircraft pilots during take-offs and landings.

Despite being located on a small island in the Yellow Sea, the stainless steel used at Incheon Airport has been almost completely unaffected by corrosion. Already in its 17^th year of operation, the stainless steel exterior will ensure that it lasts much longer.

Seeing Deep into the Canyons at Zhangjiajie, China

The majestic Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, located in the western part of Hunan Province, is one of the most beautiful sites in China. Made famous in the Western world when James Cameron used it as inspiration for the landscapes in his film Avatar (2009), it is best seen atop the world’s highest and longest bridge.

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge view from west side of gorge. (Photo courtesy of HighestBridges)

Sitting 300m over the canyon, the Zhangjiajie glass bridge gives visitors a breathtaking, and terrifying, view of the park. The bridge is supported by 4 support towers and a steel frame with over 120 glass panels set into its walkway. The towers are installed directly into the canyon sandstone and each panel of glass is layered, so that even if one layer cracks, the others will hold.

Those with stomachs of steel can enjoy the bridge while experiencing one of the most beautiful parts of the world. The glass floor may seem fragile, but the steel frame holds it together to create one of the most amazing yet vertigo-inducing views.

If we look around, we will see that steel is everywhere. For something that seems so ordinary, it can also change the way we see buildings, and even change the way we see the world.

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But to fully enjoy those winter sports, you need to have the right equipment for the season. Playing on the ice requires skates, while sliding down the snow-covered slopes requires skis – or even a bobsled or luge, for the serious winter sports enthusiast.

All these sports require steel. So let’s take a look at the role steel plays in bringing our favorite winter sports to life.

Slashing Across the Ice with Steel Skates

Whether it’s for ice hockey, figure skating or just a leisurely recreational skate, a pair of skates and a big sheet of ice is one of the most popular ways of having fun during the winter.

Actually, the oldest known skates are around 5,000 years old, and were made from the leg bones of large animals. But around the 14th century, people in the Netherlands started using iron runners, which were attached to people’s shoes with leather straps. Back then, people used poles to push themselves over the ice, but with the invention of double-edged blades around the year 1500, people gained the ability to push and glide directly with their skates. Finally, in the 19th century, steel began to be used for skates, giving them the strength needed for modern winter sports.

For today’s skates, typically the blades use tempered carbon steel that has been heat treated, and then covered in chrome – although some also use aluminum or stainless steel, and others even use titanium. The more high-end blades use better grades of steel than less expensive types. Because an important part of skating well is the blade’s edge, stronger grades of steel help hold the sharpness of the edge longer, so can go longer between sharpening.

Skate blades are thin – for hockey, usually just over 3 millimeters, while goalie and figure skater skates can be a bit wider. Surprisingly, though, the blades are not just a flat piece of metal. In fact, skate blades have a concave groove or “hollow” in them, so each blade actually touches the ice in two spots. This gives each blade an inside and outside edge, making them faster and more powerful.

Skis and Other Downhill Devices

Recently, we looked at how steel has proven pivotal for downhill fun as it is the main material in ski lifts. But in addition to helping people get up those big, snow-covered hills, steel also helps them come down again.

That’s because the serious downhill sports go seriously fast, and that means major stress on the equipment (and on the rider). Skis and snowboards typically have a thin strip of steel around the edge to strengthen the board and help carve the snow and ice better while turning.

In bobsledding, teams used to have a lot more latitude for coming up with their own sleds, so they would experiment with different alloys for the blades. But since 2006, the bobsledding governing body announced a set of standards for the steel blades, so now everyone uses the same type of metal.

Luge and skeleton are two more high-speed sleds, but much smaller than the bobsled. Their frames are made of steel, and brakes are forbidden in the competitive models. Only on the luge do participants start sitting on the sled, whereas for the skeleton and bobsled they take a running start. For luge, they travel feet-first, while skeleton is head first. The luge also comes in one-person and two-person versions.

The sleds do vary a bit in their steel blades, though. Skeletons have tubular steel blades, which have a larger surface area and slow the sled a bit, whereas luge blades are sharped steel, for maximum speed. But for all these sports, steel blades form the connection between the rider and the ice, creating the foundation for their incredible speeds (lugers can reach 140 kilometers per hour).

Snow Machines

Sometimes to get through the deep snow – when you don’t have a big, steep slope handy – you need an engine to power you along. One of the most popular machines of winter, for those living in the great outdoors, is the snowmobile, which can be both practical and fun.

Of course, steel has long been an integral part of the internal combustion engine. In addition, snowmobiles rely on steel for a variety of other parts. The skis at the front of the snowmobile can be made from a variety of materials, including steel. Studs, which go through the track to create traction, are usually made from steel, too, providing strong, durable traction in the snow and ice.

There is also another steel machine that is as slow as the snowmobile is fast, but it is vital for skaters so they can enjoy an ice rink – the resurfacer (commonly known as a Zamboni). Weighing some 2,500 kilograms, a resurfacer needs to carry upwards of 380 liters of water, along with the blades and other equipment it uses to clean the ice and lay down a new coating of water. A resurfacer needs steel for the strength to support such a heavy machine plus the durability in cold conditions.

Winter is an exciting season with a whole range of special games and sports. And thanks to steel, there are even more fun things we can do.

Conquering Mountains with Steel

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When ski resorts finally open for the season, flocks of winter sports enthusiasts head to the mountains teeming with excitement as they sit down on the almighty chairlift for the first run of day.

It wasn’t always so easy, however, to get to the top of the spotless sun-kissed peaks beckoning to be tread upon. Before the chairlift, skiing required a mountaineer’s mindset, and the willingness to climb for most of the day for one or two epic runs back down to the bottom.

This all changed when a former steel worker named James Curran forever changed the sport of skiing by inventing the steel chairlift in the winter of 1936.

The Beginning of New Skiing Era

Sun Valley, Idaho is a well-known ski destination, and a favorite region in the heart of the United States for the rich and famous to come enjoy the beautiful winter alpine scenery. Little known, however, is the fact that Sun Valley was where the world’s first three chairlifts were installed, replacing the aging tow-rope system.

During 1936 and 1937, James Curran, who worked for the Union Pacific Railroad which owned the Proctor Mountain Resort, drew inspiration for the first chairlift design from banana conveyor systems.

Curran’s chairlift was developed by re-engineering banana hooks, adding chairs and creating a machine with a greater capacity to power the steel cables up and down the mountain. The chairlift was a great success, and was the catalyst for the evolution of today’s alpine sports.

Drawing from Curran’s chairlift design, the first ski lift would be installed in present-day Czech Republic in 1940, bringing new enthusiasm in the sport of skiing to Europe.

How Chairlifts Built the Modern Alpine Sports Industry

Fast-forwarding a few decades and snowstorms later, the chairlift, although now much more technical, has not seen a massive redesign. The basic characteristics of the chairlift, including the steel ropes that carry the structure and equally-spaced chairs ranging from two to eight passengers, remain the same.

Because of the easy access to high peaks and extensive trails, alpine sports have seen much growth in mainstream popularity. Riders of all ages queue at the bottom of chairlifts, waiting for their turn to be swept up and shuttled to the top of their favorite runs.

During operating seasons, 1,200 to 4,000 skiers and snowboarders are transported up mountains every hour depending on chair size. The chairlift’s reliability and trustworthy fortified steel construction enable riders to bob up and down as they climb upwards sometimes hundreds of feet above the mountain, without doubting the safety of their journey.

Chairlift manufacturers like the Doppelmayr Garaventa and Leitner Groups, are constantly improving the design and safety features of their lift systems. “All ropeway types are planned, designed and built using the very best technology,” said a representative from Doppelmayr Garaventa. “All of our surface lifts, chair and gondola lifts are always state of the art.”

Chairlifts are a huge contributing factor in what continues to drive the multibillion-dollar ski and snowboard industry. Construction and technical advancements now allow lifts to move more people up mountains, faster, and more safely, ultimately allowing for more runs throughout a winter’s day.

The Future of the Chairlift

Climate change is playing a large part in slowing global ski resort growth and the building of new chairlifts. Less snowfall and shorter operating seasons have been driving the cost of lift tickets to rise astronomically, affecting the number of newcomers to try out winter sports.

This, however, has not deterred ski meccas like Colorado in continuing to pursue the ultimate skiing and snowboarding experience for riders, by adding new chairlifts to resorts and expanding terrain.

For the chairlift, its steel construction will allow it to weather any condition and hopefully will be carrying skiers and snowboarders up mountains across the globe for many more years to come.

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Greater stability has become a must in competitive sports ranging from baseball, football (both traditional and North American), rugby, golf, athletics and lacrosse. In the world of mountain climbing, crampons have also become indispensable.

Most professional-level cleats, regardless of sport, have one thing in common, however – they make use of steel.

Running through the History of the Cleat

Cleats’ origins can be traced back to 1500s England, where they were worn to play amateur football. Some historians have said that King Henry VIII’s Great Wardrobe included a pair of specially crafted, hand-stitched boots he used to play football in. When the first professional clubs were formed in England, beginning with in Nottingham County in 1862, a new demand for the studded football boot arose.

However, it was across the other side of the Atlantic where steel spikes were first used for cleat studs, back in 1860 in the United States. Baseball was becoming mainstream, and rapidly developing into America’s new favorite pastime, and players requested better shoes to play in. The solution presented itself in the form of steel-spiked footwear. Going into the 20^th Century, the demand for cleats skyrocketed as professional team sports grew in popularity all over the world.

Other sports professionals began adopting the use of the steel-studded cleats. Lacrosse players, golfers and track-and-field athletes all understood the importance of having extra traction, especially when playing on wet or slippery surfaces conditions.

Soon, even mountaineers began to realize how useful steel cleats were. Oscar Eckenstein designed the first pair of 10-point crampons in 1908, utilizing steel as their main material, and other climbers quickly followed suit.

Why Steel Cleats and Not Plastic?

Peak athletic performance requires the best equipment made from the strongest materials. While playing most field sports, an athlete needs to be able firm and stable contact with the ground at all times. This allows them to throw, catch, sprint, swing, kick, turn, or push off of another player at a moment’s notice.

Livestrong.com writers mention that a pair of good cleats gives your feet much-needed traction on the turf for sports that take place of grass or dirt, like football, baseball, soccer, golf, lacrosse, rugby and others. For each different sport, steel spikes are arranged in different patterns to provide maximum effectiveness.

Metal spikes have been used on sporting shoes for decades because of their toughness and durability. With modern shoe designs, steel spikes can be replaced if one becomes worn down or bent – without having to replace the entire shoe.

With molded plastic cleats, this is most often not the case. Steel-studded cleats are often slightly more expensive than plastic versions. However, a good pair of steel cleats will last you longer than plastic equivalents, as when the plastic studs wear down, the shoes lose their stabilizing properties.

Plastic spikes are certainly commonly used nowadays, but are often used in youth sports where metal spikes are deemed less appropriate. As they are often cheaper, they can be more suitable for children, whose feet tend to grow quickly.

Steel studs are also preferred in professional leagues, as they can dig deeper into turf and dirt much more than plastic studs. While walking on harder surfaces, steel studs give off a very recognizable sound – a loud clinking, compared to the softer tip-tapping of plastic studs.

Modern Cleat Designs

With the progression of cleat designs and the technology available to measure and track effectiveness, sports footwear has evolved to become adaptable to almost all conditions.

The world’s leading sports brands offer cleats for each sport with interchangeable steel spikes. These vary in length, point and size, and are all fit for different conditions. For example, in muddier conditions, you may need longer spikes to dig deeper into the turf.

In the case of track-and-field, the steel spikes used are extremely sharp-pointed, designed to gain maximum traction on synthetic and dirt tracks when runners are moving at high speed.

As adult athletes tend to play their chosen sports for a relatively long time, they need footwear that is durable and dependable. High-level sports place a lot of pressure on shoes, and top-level athletes value stability, traction and balance above many other factors – and perhaps this is why steel remains many sportspeople’s first choice for cleat studs.

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Steel Keeps Sailors Edging Forward

Since the dawn of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, sailors have been testing their skills in the Games’ largest playing field. Within the sport of sailing, there are eight different classes of events determined by the shape and size of the yacht.

Each class of yacht has its own rules and regulations that include the types of material that can be used in the construction of the boat. But there is one material that is present in all eight classes – stainless steel.

Most of the yacht classes’ rigging, which includes the masts, yards, sails and cordage, require the same material to be used – stainless steel wire rope. With the force that the sea wind puts on the sails, it is important for the speed of the yacht and for the safety of the sailors that the ropes be as strong as possible, making stainless steel the perfect rigging choice.

The 470 class, a yacht with two crew members measuring 4.7 meters in length, requires that the rudder stock and tiller be made of stainless steel. The rudder stock and tiller are used to steer the yachts aggressively through the course, incurring significant pressure from the weight of the manned craft, the current of the sea and the force of the wind. It is imperative that these components be made of the lightest and strongest material available – stainless steel.

Shoes Built for a Full Gallop

The Olympic sport of equestrian is as unique as it is majestic. Riders and horses perform together in three event categories, and have developed the ability to feel each other’s emotions over countless hours of training.

Equestrian is the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete against each other on a level playing field while competing in three disciplines, eventing, jumping and dressage.

Both the horses and riders are tested for strength, endurance and skill, and like any other athlete, horses require special shoes in order to compete. Equestrian horseshoes must be reliable, safe and durable – making steel the perfect material.

Steel horseshoes act as a traction device for the horses on varying terrain, and allow them to cup more earth while galloping. Horseshoes enable the horses to hold their footing, prevent any slippage and improve their overall performance during competition.

As Olympic equestrian events are incredibly competitive in nature, the horseshoes are typically worn for longer periods of time. Because of the duration that a horse wears the shoes, steel is the preferred choice as it stronger and staves off the possibility of infections occurring.

Steel horseshoes have also been thought of as a symbol of good luck when hung with the ends pointing up. Although Olympic equestrian riders rely on their long-perfected skill and talent to perform, having a little extra help attached to the bottom of their horse’s hooves might prove useful.

A Metal Trusted by Gymnasts

Steel’s strength and versatility make it the top choice for international gymnastics competition equipment. Gymnasts are constantly risking injury by performing exciting aerial stunts on bars, beams and vaults. The equipment they use must be flexible and able to withstand the force that is exerted during each routine and exercise.

The uneven bars is a spectacular event that showcases the athletes’ strength, awareness and skill by swinging and flipping between bars set at different heights. Although the bar itself is made from a flexible composite material, the frame is made from stainless steel.

The spring balance beam’s structure is also made from steel. Not only are the legs and frame made from the ultra-strong metal, so is the spring that launches the athletes in the air as they perform feats of true balance and discipline.

The steel structures in gymnastics allow the gymnasts to put their years of training and practice to use when trying to achieve the ultimate dream – winning a gold medal.

The Most Important Olympic Metal

From magnificent Olympic venues, to sabers, shot puts and yachts, steel is used almost everywhere in the Olympic Games.

There is a reason that steel is the first choice when it comes to construction and equipment – it’s lightweight, corrosion-resistant and strong enough to withstand the abuse given by world-class athletes. With the predominant use of steel in the Games, it can be considered the most important metal in the Olympics. Although it is not necessary fought over like the other top three, it is the catalyst from which dreams and everlasting memories are created.

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Kicking Off a New Era in Stadium Design

Resource: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcwest/14950418961, Jim Bahn.

Home of the San Francisco 49ers, the recently built Levi’s® Stadium is the epitome of next-generation stadium design. The $1.2 billion venue boasts an open design anchored with spacious entry plazas. Some 68,500 seats encapsulate the fourteen-acre stadium, though seating can be expanded to 75,000 for large events such as the upcoming Super Bowl as well as concerts, motocross events and conferences.

In June 2010, voters in Santa Clara approved a statute authorizing the creation of the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, a tax-exempt public authority, to construct and own the new football stadium, and for the city government to lease land to the authority. A construction loan, funded by private investors, was secured in December 2011, enabling construction to begin in April 2012. In July of that year, the first steel beams were inserted into the ground at the stadium site to commence the assembly of the frame of the stadium.

Jamie Matthews, mayor of Santa Clara, was in attendance as the ceremonial first steel beam was put into place. “There are many important construction milestones for projects of this size. Adding steel is not only visually appealing but also represents both symbolic and real strengths of the project. As the steel goes up, you will see the stadium take shape and grow,” Mayor Matthews noted at the event.

A Touchdown for Sustainability

And grow it did. All in all, approximately 18,000 tons of steel were used to support the 1.85 million square foot stadium. About 14,000 pieces of steel were installed—the largest weighing 36,000 pounds—while an estimated 127,000 bolts were utilized to keep them secure. Furthermore, the steel used in Levi’s® Stadium is 95 percent recyclable, adding to the stadium’s green properties.

In addition to the structure’s recyclable steel, the stadium utilizes enough solar panels to power its ten 49ers home games completely through the collection of solar energy throughout the year. Three solar bridges, which connect the main parking area to the stadium, showcase this technology in a beautiful way.

Yet, one of the most unique features of the facility is the green roof that sits atop the suite tower on the west side of the stadium, which aids in lowering the amount of energy it needs to heat suites during winter or cool them during summer. Ample access to public transit, water-conserving plumbing and electric vehicle recharging for spectators also contribute to the stadium’s industry-leading sustainability efforts.

Resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-brmGz3uEAg

These state-of-the-art attributes were no doubt a contributing factor to Levi’s® Stadium being recognized as the Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal in May of 2015. A month later, it was also named Venue of Year for 2015 at the The Stadium Business Awards in Barcelona, Spain. It’s certain that as new sports arenas like Levi’s® Stadium continue to be built with a focus on sustainability, steel will continue to be the go-to construction material.

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