Slalom skiing

Slalom "gates" establish a course for the event

slalom race

Slalom skiing is a special event in the sport of Alpine skiing.^[1]

History

Slalom was first recognized as part of the Winter Olympic Games in 1936.^[2]

Analysis

Slalom is the most technical event in alpine skiing.

A slalom race involves skiing between and around a series of obstacles made of poles which are placed on the snowy slope. These poles are called "gates". There are many gates in a slalom run.

Smaller turns than Super G or Downhill are made because distance between gates is short.

World Cup

World Cup is the highest international competition of alpine skiing held by International Ski Federation (FIS).^[3]

Ingemar Stenmark (Sweden, his career 1973-1989) and Vreni Schneider (Switzerland, her career 1984-1995) are the record holder as the most World Cup titles in Slalom discipline. Stenmark won 8 times and Schneider won 6 times.

Equipment for competition

These are necessary items for the alpine skiing competitions.

Racing ski...Its length is different in each event and is fixed by FIS.

In slalom (SL), 165 cm for men, 155 cm for ladies. In giant slalom (GS), 195 cm for men, 188 cm for ladies. In Super G (SG), 210 cm for men, 205 cm for ladies. In Downhill (DH), 218 cm for men, 210 cm for ladies. (Rules apply to 2012-2013 World Cup and Europe Cup)

Bindings
Helmet...All of the racers have a duty of wearing a helmet to protect the head. Especially for SL, racers absolutely need a helmet with a chin guard.
Goggles
Poles...In SL, racers go through the course knocking down poles with their own hands, so they need poles with punch guards.
Shin guards...To protect racers' shins the same as punch guard.

Slalom Skiing Media

Tonje Sekse competes in the slalom
Nathalie Eklund skis slalom at Trysil, Norway in 2011
Example of a slalom course, whereby the skier passes through pairs of poles (gates) of alternating colors.
Bottom: 2013 FIS legal slalom race skis, top: giant slalom race skis from 2006