Alpine skiing.
To the recreational skier, alpine skiing means one thing — getting downhill by any means possible, preferably in an upright position and hopefully in control. To a ski racer, it could mean any one of five maneuvers — downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom or combined — and it involves a full range of skiing skills. Following are descriptions of the five elements included in Olympic alpine skiing:
Downhill
This is a one-run event that includes a variety of challenging turns and jumps in which skiers reach speeds of 70 to 75 miles per hour on a course that is as hard and crusty as a frozen lake. The scraping of the skis is only eclipsed by the whoosh of a skier whizzing by. Everything about the racer is designed to be aerodynamic — the poles bend into the body, the tips of the skis have a very low profile, many of the helmets sweep back to guide the air, and the body suits are skin-tight.
Skis: The skis are long, but not as long as last year's, and narrow, but not as narrow as they used to be. Rules require a wider minimum turning radius — 41 meters — and allow for a low-profile tip. Men's downhill skis are around 217 centimeters and women's around 210. Last year they were 225 and 217, respectively. They are the narrowest of the racing skis and the most difficult to turn.
Super G
This race is only slightly slower and involves slightly more turns than the downhill. It, too, is a one-run event that involves high-speed turns, which may also include jumps and gliding phases, and absolute concentration. The super G was introduced a few decades back to feed the appetite of the TV viewers for high-speed skiing.
Skis: Super-G skis are a little shorter and a little easier to turn. Allowable turning radius is 33 meters. They, too, are narrow and have a low-profile tip. Men's skis are between 209 and 212 centimeters and women's around 201 to 212.
Giant slalom
Called the most graceful of the events, the giant slalom is, some racers argue, the most difficult event to win. This is a two-run race with the combined times determining the winner. It involves precise turns, and one little mistake can prove costly. This is a technical race that requires racers to ride a flat ski, step into the turns early and be as soft on the skis as a ballerina in a pirouette.
Skis: Here is where the skis start to take shape and go shorter. The introduction of shaped skis has caused a real revolution in racing. The allowable radius with the giant-slalom ski is 21 meters, meaning skiers can turn more quickly and easily. The men race on shaped skis between 193 and 198 centimeters and the women on 183s. Shaped skis are wider at the tip and tail and narrower at the waist, which allows the ski to transfer to a turning edge sooner. A few years back, all the giant-slalom skis were over 200 centimeters.
Slalom
The slalom is the sport of gladiators — at least that's what they look like. Skiers wear full-face helmets, knee and arm guards, padded gloves, chest armor and horn-like deflectors on the tips of their skis. That's because the object of the race it to slam into every pole hard enough to make it give and still be able to hold a straight line. This, too, is the riskiest of the disciplines. Ski tips come within inches of hooking gates and instant disqualification. Racers must have split-second timing and endurance just to finish.
Skis: This is where the shaped skis have really taken over. A few years ago, men were racing slalom on 200-centimeter skis. This Olympics, they'll be on skis as short at 155. While there are no limits on turning radius, there is on length. Men's skis can be no shorter than 155 and women's skis no shorter than 150. Typically, men will race on the more pronounced shaped skis between 155 and 171 centimeters and the women on skis between 150 and 155.
Combined
This is the ultimate test for the all-around skiers. First, they must go fast in the downhill, then must show control in the slalom. All of the rules apply and all of the pitfalls are present. The medalist is not always the winner in each race but the skier who is the most consistent.