Source:

02-12-2009 16:55

Alpine Skiing events for men and women are as follows: Downhill,Super G, Giant Slalom, Slalom and combined.

Downhill

The downhill discipline is the most spectacular of the alpine skiing events. Downhill skiers always seek to maximize their aerodynamic efficiency where possible over the course: choosing the shortest trajectories and allowing their skis to slide over the snow thereby creating as little friction as possible. They sometimes reach speeds of over 120 km/h. The drop in height in the men's course varies between 800 and 1100 meters, and between 500 and 800 meters for the women's competition. Athletes must pass through the red gates usually set at right angles to the line of descent.

Super G

The Super-G originated at the start of the eighties and is a combination of the downhill and giant slalom event, although nowadays it is closer to the downhill in both speed and technique. The men's super-G courses have a drop in altitude that varies between 500 and 650 meters. For the women's races it varies from 400 to 600 meters.The course is marked with blue and red alternating gates creating changes of direction; the number of gates must not be greater than 10% of the difference in altitude - at least 35 for men and 30 for women. There are no heats over the course. Helmets are compulsory.

Giant slalom

In the giant slalom, the gates are closer than in the speed races. It is therefore necessary to have great control over the skis and speed in performing continual changes of direction. The difference in level varies from 300 to 450 meters for the men's competition and 300 to 400 meters for the women's. The discipline consists of two runs over the same slope, but with different courses. The athlete who achieves the fastest overall time wins. The number of gates is obtained from a percentage, between 11% and 15%, of the difference in altitude. More specifically, they are between 56 and 70 in number for the men and 46 and 58 for the women. The starting order for the second run is established by reversing the order of the first 30 classified in the first run or, in special cases, the first 15.

Slalom

In the men's slalom, the difference in level of the course can vary from 180 to 220 meters, while for the women's slalom it ranges from 140 to 200 meters. The competition is held in two runs over the same slope but following different courses, with the same procedure as in the giant slalom. The gates along the course must be between 55 and 75 in number for the men and between 40 and 60 for the women. The slalom demands great agility and skill on the part of athletes in order to avoid the dreaded ‘forking’ of the poles (i.e. when both skis do not pass on the inside of the pole). Slopes in slalom races are rather steep, with very hard snow, often artificially iced to avoid early deterioration of the surface caused by the sharp ski blades.

Combined

The Universiade medals for the combined event are awarded after calculating the total number of points obtained by each athlete in the preceding four competitions, using the international FISU standards which translate times achieved into a score in points.*A combined classification will be established on four events. At least three results must be achieved.

 

Editor:Liu Anqi