Alpine Skiing

Alpine skiing has been practiced in the European Alps for at least 150 years. In addition to adapting cross-country techniques to suit their steeper slopes, alpine skiers also found they needed slightly wider skis to go downhill safely, and developed different ways to use their poles and new turning techniques to match the more vertical terrain of the high mountains.

The sport became increasingly popular through the early 20th century with the development of T-bars, tows and ski lifts, as alpine skiers no longer had to climb up a slope before skiing down.

Alpine skiing for both men and women debuted as an Olympic sport in 1936 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In 1948, separate downhill and slalom races were added. From that time, super combined was not contested at an Olympic Winter Games until 1988, in Calgary. The giant slalom was added in 1952, and the super-G in 1988.

How It Works

In alpine skiing, racers can reach speeds of more than 130 kilometres an hour, travelling down a vertical drop that ranges from 180 metres (slalom) to 1,100 metres (downhill) for men and 140 metres (slalom) to 800 metres (downhill) for women. The vertical drop is made even more difficult because of a series of gates the skiers must pass through. Skiers who miss a gate must then climb back up and go through the missed gate or be disqualified.

Downhill

The downhill event features the longest course and the highest speeds in alpine skiing. Each skier makes a single run down a single course. The fastest time determines the winner.

Super-G

Super-G, for super giant slalom, combines the speed of downhill with the more precise turns of giant slalom. The course is shorter than downhill but longer than the giant slalom course. Each skier makes one run down a single course. The fastest time determines the winner.

Giant Slalom

Giant slalom is similar to the slalom, with fewer, wider and smoother turns. Each skier makes two runs down two different courses on the same slope. Both runs take place on the same day. Usually the first run is held in the morning and the second in the afternoon. The times for both runs are then combined with the fastest total time determining the winner.

Slalom

Slalom features the shortest course and the quickest turns. As in the giant slalom, each skier makes two runs down two different courses on the same slope. Both runs take place on the same day. The times are added together and the fastest total time determines the winner.

Super Combined

The combined event consists of one downhill run followed by one slalom run using a shorter course. The times are added together. The fastest total time determines the winner.

Competition Events

Men’s Downhill

Ladies’ Downhill

Men’s Super-G

Ladies’ Super-G

Men’s Giant Slalom

Ladies’ Giant Slalom

Men’s Slalom

Ladies’ Slalom

Men’s Super Combined

Ladies’ Super Combined