Alpine Skiing

The Olympic alpine competition consists of ten events: five for women and five for men. They are:

Downhill
Super-G
Giant Slalom
Slalom
Super Combined (consisting of one downhill run and one slalom run).

In all cases, time is measured to the hundredth of a second and ties are permitted. The rules are the same for men and women; only the courses differ.

Downhill

Of all the alpine disciplines, the downhill features the longest course and the highest speeds. Each skier makes a single run down a single course and the fastest time determines the winner.

Super-G

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

Unlike the downhill, there are no training runs on the super-G course, only a race-day inspection. Therefore, athletes must memorize the course quickly, trust their instincts to find the fastest line, and have already mastered the technique to produce an error-free run.

Giant Slalom

The giant slalom, or GS, is the faster of the two technical events. Each skier makes two runs down two different courses on the same slope. Both runs take place on the same day, usually with the first run held in the morning, and the second run in the afternoon. The times are added and the fastest total time determines the winner.

Athletes are not allowed to take training runs through the courses, but on race day, they may inspect each course by sliding slowly alongside it.

Slalom

The slalom features the shortest course and the quickest turns. The winner will not only choose the fastest line, but will also have the quickest reflexes and be fast on their feet. 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 and the fastest total time determines the winner.

Athletes are not allowed to take training runs through the courses, but on race day, they may inspect each course by sliding slowly alongside it.

Super Combined

The combined event consists of one downhill followed by one slalom run. The lowest cumulative time of the two runs determines the winner. The super combined downhill and the super combined slalom runs are contested independently of the regular downhill and slalom events.

THE COURSE:

Downhill:

The downhill course is set by an International Ski Federation official - the FIS Race Director. Gates dictate where a skier must turn.

The course must be clear of all obstacles. Blue dye is sprayed along the course to aid athletes' depth perception. This is especially useful when an airborne racer is trying to land a jump. Padding and netting exist along the side of the course to cushion a fall or prevent a racer from sliding into the forest.

For safety, typically three downhill training runs are scheduled on the Olympic slope prior to race day. Although an athlete benefits from completing all training runs, it is only required that a competitor pass through the start gate once.

Super-G:

The super-G course must have a minimum of 35 changes of direction for the men, and at least 30 changes of direction for the women. The gates are set alternately red and blue. Not every gate necessarily mandates a "change of direction."

The course setter tries to make a fair course, but will also try to favour the racers from his/her country. Unlike the downhill, the Olympic super-G, giant slalom and slalom courses are set by a representative of one of the nations competing.

The nationality of the course setter is determined by draw after the last super-G prior to the Olympic Games. It works as follows: the country of each super-G racer ranked in the top 15 on the world cup circuit is entered in a draw. The nation chosen will set the course.

Giant Slalom:

The two giant slalom courses are set by two different people from two different countries.

The nationalities of the giant slalom course setters are determined by a draw sometime after the last world cup giant slalom prior to the Games. The number of times a country is represented in the course-setters' draw is based on the number of athletes it has in the top 15 on the giant slalom world cup start list.

Once a country's representative is selected to set the giant slalom course, the nation is removed from course-setting consideration for the slalom and slalom-combined.

In giant slalom, the number of turns is determined by the vertical drop of the course. The vertical drop, or altitude change, is figured by subtracting the elevation at the finish from the elevation at the start. To determine the required number of turns, calculate 11-15% of the vertical drop in metres and round it off. Number of turns is not synonymous with number of gates, since some gates may not require a direction change.

Slalom:

The two slalom courses are set by two different people representing two different nations. The nationalities of the slalom course setters are determined by a draw sometime after the last World Cup slalom prior to the Games in the same way the giant slalom draw is run.

The two nations chosen to set the slalom courses will be removed from course-setting consideration for the slalom-combined. Also, the slalom course-setters will not be the same nationality as those who set the giant slalom course.

START ORDER:

Downhill

The downhill course is set by the FIS Alpine Race Director. Three training runs are scheduled prior to the race day; skiers are required to particpate in at least one timed training run to be eligible to compete in the ladies' downhill.

The race order is determined using the FIS World Cup Start List (WCSL) in that event (downhill, super-G etc). The top 30 competitors will be arranged according to WCSL standings, with the top seven ranked skiers being randomly drawn between 16 and 22 in the Olympic downhill start list. The next 7 ranked skiers (from 8 to 15 in WCSL) are randomly drawn between 8 and 15. The remainder of the top 30 are randomly drawn between 1 and 7 and 23 and 30.

Competitors not in the WCSL top 30 of the discipline and with at least 500 WCSL points start in order of their WCSL points after the 30th racer.

Super-G:

The race order is determined using the FIS World Cup Start List (WCSL) in that event (downhill, super-G etc). The top 30 competitors will be arranged according to WCSL standings, with the top seven ranked skiers being randomly drawn between 16 and 22 in the Olympic downhill start list. The next 7 ranked skiers (from 8 to 15 in WCSL) are randomly drawn between 8 and 15. The remainder of the top 30 are randomly drawn between 1 and 7 and 23 and 30.

Competitors not in the WCSL top 30 of the discipline and with at least 500 WCSL points start in order of their WCSL points after the 30th racer.

Giant Slalom:

The first-run start order for the giant slalom is determined by a draw the night before the race. Using rankings from the latest giant slalom world cup start list (WCSL), the top seven skiers are randomly assigned start positions from 1 to 7.

Skiers ranked 8-15 on the WCSL are randomly assigned the next eight bibs. The remaining athletes are slotted in the order of his/her FIS points. In the race, each skier wears a number to indicate his first run start position.

Olympic competition sees everyone who finished the first run receive a second run - unlike the world cup which limits the second run to the top 30 finishers. Skiers are ranked according to their first-run times.

In the second run, the top 30 finishers from the first run start in reverse order of finish; the rest follow in order of finish. In other words, the 30th racer on course will be the fastest from run one. Competitors keep their original bibs from the first run.

The WCSL that determines the first-run draw order will be available after the last giant slalom prior to the Winter Games.

Slalom:

The first-run start order for the slalom is determined by a draw before the race. Using rankings from the latest giant slalom World Cup Start List (WCSL), the top seven skiers are randomly assigned start positions between 1 and 7.

Skiers ranked 8-15 on the WCSL are randomly assigned the next eight bibs (8-15). The remaining athletes are slotted in the order of his/her FIS points. In the race, each skier wears a number to indicate his first run start position.

Olympic competition sees everyone who finished the first run receive a second run - unlike the world cup which limits the second run to the top 30 finishers. Skiers are ranked according to their first-run times.

In the second run, the top 30 finishers from the first run start in reverse order of finish; the rest follow in order of finish. In other words, the 30th racer on course will be the fastest from run one. Competitors keep their original bibs from the first run.

In order to be eligible for a second run, each skier must pass through all of the gates with both feet; if a skier misses a gate, the athlete may hike uphill and try to clear it successfully before continuing down the course. Everyone who finished the first run will receive a second run. The World Cup which limits the second run to the top 30 finishers). After the first run, skiers are ranked according to their times. To determine the second-run start order, the top 30 are flipped and the rest follow in order of finish. In other words, the 30th racer on course will be the fastest from run one. Competitors keep their original bibs from the first run, and will appear out of sequence in run two.

The WCSL that determines the first-run draw order will be available after the last slalom prior to the Winter Games.

Super Combined:

The downhill (1st run) start order is determined the same way it is for the regular event. The slalom start (2nd run)order is set based on the results from the downhill. the top 30 finishers from downhill start in reverse order for the slalom.

POST-RACE EQUIPMENT INSPECTION:

In all alpine skiing events, equipment will be checked after each run to ensure that it complies with FIS dimensions and regulations. If it does not comply, the athlete will be disqualified from the event in which the illegal equipment was used.

On December 11, 2005, Switzerland's Didier Defago appeared to win a super combined event in Val d'Isère, France, but he was disqualified when he failed the post-race inspection - officials determined that the sole of his boot was above the FIS limit of 55 millimetres (it measured either 55.1 or 55.2 millimetres with each re-measurement).