Alpine Skiing
Winter racing sport where skiers descend a snow-covered mountain course through gates, in five disciplines from slow-turn slalom to 130 km/h downhill.
What is Alpine Skiing?
Alpine skiing is a competitive snow-sport in which racers descend a marked mountain course through a series of gates, aiming for the fastest possible time. The five FIS World Cup disciplines are slalom (short, technical turns), giant slalom (larger turns), super-G (wider turns at higher speed), downhill (longest, fastest course with jumps), and combined (a downhill/super-G run plus a slalom). Modern alpine ski racing originated in Kandahar, Austria (1911) and was included in the Winter Olympics in 1936. Top speeds in downhill exceed 150 km/h. The FIS Alpine World Cup circuit runs November-March across Europe, North America and Asia.
Quick facts
Category
Winter Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1–200
Duration
~5 min
Where played
outdoor
Field / court
ski course
Country of origin
🇦🇹 Austria
Estimated origin
First alpine race 1911 (Kandahar Cup, Montana, Switzerland — organised by Arnold Lunn); Olympic 1936
Olympic
Yes
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Complete the course through all required gates in the shortest time.
Match structure
Racers start one at a time from a starting hut, launching through a wand that triggers the electronic clock. They ski the marked course, passing each gate correctly. Missing a gate or straddling it is a disqualification. Time is recorded at the finish photocell to 0.01 s. Two-run events sum both times; single-run events post the direct time.
Rules
Basic rules
Pass all gates
Both ski tips and both feet must cross the gate line on the correct side; missing or straddling a gate is a DSQ.
Start wand
Timing begins when the racer's shin pushes past the wand; leaving early is a DSQ (in later start intervals).
Course inspection
Racers may inspect the course by sideslipping alongside it before racing — no free skiing on the race line.
Fall lines
A fallen racer may get up and continue only if no gates have been missed after the fall.
Two-run rule (SL & GS)
Slalom and GS have two runs on different course settings; combined time wins.
Speed suits
FIS regulates suit air permeability to prevent suits that behave like a wind-baffle.
Slalom rerun
If a slalom pole is out of position from a previous racer's fall, the affected racer may request a rerun.
Advanced rules
Reverse-30 start order (run 2)
In two-run events, the top 30 from run 1 start in reverse order in run 2 (fastest goes last), rewarding a strong first run.
DSQ vs DNF
DSQ for missing a gate or equipment violation; DNF (did not finish) for a fall / hook out where the racer can't cross the finish.
Combined event
One super-G or downhill run plus one slalom run; times summed.
Weather cancellation
The chief of race can cancel or shorten for wind, visibility or snow safety; races may run at reduced speed.
Parallel events
Head-to-head knockout format on twin identical courses; used in team events and parallel slalom.
Scoring
Ranked by finishing time; fastest legal completion wins.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Legal completion | time to 0.01 s |
| Two-run sum (SL/GS) | sum of times |
| FIS World Cup points | 100-1 |
Win condition · Fastest cumulative time.
Playing area
Called
ski course
Dimensions
Slalom 180-220 m vertical drop, 55-75 gates; GS 300-450 m drop; super-G 400-650 m; downhill 750-1100 m drop and 2-5 km long.
Groomed snow slope with plastic slalom poles or panelled gates marking the race line, safety netting alongside jumps and turns, and a start hut, timing wand, and finish gate.
Equipment
Alpine skis
Discipline-specific: slalom skis are short (155-165 cm men, deep sidecut for quick turns), downhill skis long (215+ cm).
Ski boots
Rigid plastic race boots that transfer edge power directly to the skis.
Poles
Bent (aerodynamic) poles for downhill, straight for slalom; slalom poles have shin guards.
Helmet with chin guard
Mandatory FIS-approved helmet; chin guard required in slalom to protect from gate impacts.
Race suit
Aerodynamic Lycra suit; downhill/super-G suits must pass a minimum permeability test.
Goggles
Anti-fog racing goggles with lens colour matched to light conditions.
Back protector
Mandatory for downhill and super-G.
Officiating
The jury (5+ officials led by a FIS-appointed Technical Delegate) has final authority. Gate judges monitor each gate and report faults. Timekeeping is fully automated to 0.01 s.
- Race Director (FIS)
- Chief of Race
- Course Setter
- Referee & Jury (starter, technical delegate, chief timekeeper)
- Gate judges
- Course crew
Strategies
Aggressive line vs safety line
The straightest line saves time but is easier to hook a gate; safer arcs sacrifice time but preserve possession of both skis.
Tuck aerodynamics
In downhill, minimising frontal area with a low tuck matters more than raw fitness — Bertran, Franz.
First-run strategy
In slalom, secure a top-30 finish; conservative on tricky sections, aggressive on flush sections.
Powder or ice
Adjust ski wax and edge sharpness to match snow conditions.
Terminology
- DSQ
- Disqualification — usually for missing a gate.
- DNF
- Did not finish — fell, straddled or otherwise couldn't finish.
- Wand
- The starting bar the skier pushes past to trigger the timer.
- Corridor
- The corridor between two adjacent gate pairs — the racing line.
- Panel gate
- The larger flag-panel gate used in speed disciplines (SG and DH).
- Turning gate / offset gate
- In slalom, the small hinged pole the racer strikes with shin and hand.
- Bib
- Race number, worn over the race suit; bibs 1-15 usually get the freshest snow in run 1.
- Tuck
- Aerodynamic low crouch used on straight sections and airtime landings.
- Streif
- The Hahnenkamm downhill course in Kitzbühel — most famous / feared racecourse.
- Combined
- Two-part event: a speed run plus a slalom run; times added.
Major competitions
Winter Olympic Games
quadrennial · worldwide · since 1936
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships
biennial · worldwide · since 1931
FIS Alpine World Cup
annual · worldwide (Nov-Mar circuit) · since 1966
Hahnenkamm Downhill (Kitzbühel)
annual · Austria · since 1931
The most prestigious classic downhill; the 'Streif' is skiing's most feared racecourse.
Where it is played
Governing bodies
International Ski and Snowboard FederationFIS
Founded 1924 · Oberhofen am Thunersee, Switzerland
Official site ↗US Ski & Snowboard
Founded 1905 · Park City, USA
Official site ↗
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Ingemar Stenmark
- Marcel Hirscher
- Alberto Tomba
- Hermann Maier
- Lindsey Vonn
- Mikaela Shiffrin
- Marcel Nadig
- Aksel Lund Svindal
- Anja Pärson
- Bode Miller
- Marco Odermatt
- Federica Brignone
Records
Most FIS World Cup wins (men)
Ingemar Stenmark — 86 (1989)
Most FIS World Cup wins (women)
Mikaela Shiffrin — 99+ (career, still active) (2025)
Most Olympic alpine medals
Kjetil André Aamodt — 8 (4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze) (2006)
Fastest speed in downhill
Johan Clarey — 161.9 km/h (Wengen) (2013)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Wedge stops
Learn to snowplow and stop on gentle greens.
- 2
Parallel turns
Progress from wedge to skis-parallel turns on blue runs.
- 3
Edge to edge
Feel the ski edges gripping and releasing on hardpack.
- 4
First gates
Ski a set of stubby slalom gates set wide apart on a moderate slope.
intermediate
- 1
Carving
Skid-free turns leaving railroad tracks; upper body downhill, lower body angulating.
- 2
Course tactics
Look 2-3 gates ahead; commit to line before each gate.
- 3
Slalom pole striking
Cross-blocking hand and shin against the gate for a straighter line.
- 4
Speed events
Progress to super-G with jumps; learn tuck and pre-jumping.
advanced
- 1
Course inspection
Sideslip alongside the course, memorising key gates, terrain rolls and light changes.
- 2
Micro-adjustment on the fly
Shift weight mid-turn to recover from an over-aggressive line.
- 3
Race pacing
In two-run events, know when to hold back in run 1 to secure a top-30 spot.
Frequently asked
What are the five alpine skiing disciplines?+
Slalom (SL), giant slalom (GS), super-G (SG), downhill (DH), and combined (AC) — a downhill/super-G run plus a slalom.
How fast do downhill racers go?+
Peak speeds in downhill are ~140-160 km/h; the Wengen Lauberhorn regularly clocks 155+ km/h.
Why do slalom racers wear shin and hand guards?+
They strike hinged slalom poles as they pass to shorten their line; guards protect from repeated pole impact.
What is 'cross-blocking'?+
Swinging the outside hand across the body to knock a slalom pole out of the way — allows a tighter line.
How is the winner decided in a downhill?+
Single run against the clock; fastest legal time to 0.01 s wins.