Alpine Skiing at the Winter Olympics

Alpine Skiing in Olympics games: Alpine skiing involves sliding down a snow-covered mountain slope aided by long, thin skis. Popularly known as "downhill skiing", alpine skiing is a form of skiing developed from the popular cross country skiing. The origin of alpine skiing can be traced back to the nineteenth century Europe.

This skiing event has become immensely popular in the snowy mountain regions of Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, South America and eastern parts of Asia. The skiers have to be very well conditioned and technically proficient for succeeding in the event. The Federation Internationale de Ski or the FIS is the governing body of the skiing event at the international level.

Alpine Skiing at the Winter Olympics: Alpine skiing was included in both men's and women's skiing program during the 1936, Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Games. The events contested at the 1936 Games were men's combined event and women's combined events. At present, there are ten events currently in the program of alpine skiing in the Winter Olympics.

Detailed alpine skiing events

• Men's Downhill
• Ladies' Downhill
• Men's Super-G
• Ladies' Super-G
• Men's Giant Slalom
• Ladies' Giant Slalom
• Men's Slalom
• Ladies' Slalom
• Men's Super Combined
• Ladies' Super Combined

Categories of Alpine Skiing: Alpine skiing can divided in various categories on the basis of the forms of the competitions. The most contested categories of alpine skiing are-

• Downhill skiing
• Super-G or the super giant slalom
• Giant slalom
• Slalom
• Combined event
• K-O (knock-out) slalom or giant slalom
• Parallel slalom

Rules of Alpine Skiing: The Federation Internationale de Ski or the FIS sets rules for the alpine skiing competitions at the international level. Some of the alpine skiing rules, which are followed at the international competitions, are-

• Alpine skiing competitions are divided into various events.
• The participants of the alpine skiing competitions are not permitted to use any performance enhancing drug during the competition.
• All the equipments used during the competitions have to meet the FIS standards specified in its rule-book.
• A number of officials are appointed during the skiing competitions to supervise the races.
• The competitors at the international skiing competitions are divided into various groups according to their age.
• The lengths of the skiing courses for various skiing events are determined by the FIS rule-book. The course should be properly marked during the competition.
• All the gates on the skiing course should be marked and numbered during the competitions for the competitors' convenience. The starting and finishing areas should be distinctively marked.
• The skiing course should be carefully prepared for the competition. Before the competition, the course should be inspected.
• A competitor can be disqualified for commencing a false start during the international competitions.
• All the skiers have to pass through all the gates during the competition. On violating this rule, the skier may be disqualified form the competition.

Medal winners in Alpine Skiing: The leading nations in the field of the alpine skiing at the international level are Austria, Switzerland, France, the United States of America, Italy, Norway and Germany. Antoine Deneriaz, Fritz Strobl, Jean-Luc Cretier, Tommy Moe, Patrick Ortlieb, Pirmin Zurbriggen, Bill Johnson, Leonhard Stock, Peter Muller, Lasse Kjus, Michael Walchhofer, Bruno Kernen, Franz Klammer, Bernhard Russi, Rainer Schonfelder, Reinfried Herbst, Benjamin Raich, Jean-Pierre Vidal, Hans Petter Buraas, Finn Christian Jagge, Thomas Stangassinger, Alberto Tomba, Phil Mahre, Gustav Thoni, Joel Chenal, Hermann Maier, Ingemar Stenmark, Bode Miller, Kjetil Andre Aamodt, Anja Parson, Martina Schild, Michaela Dorfmeister, Carole Montillet, Katja Seizinger, Christl Haas, Marlies Schild, Nicole Hosp, Janica Kostelic, Vreni Schneider, Anna Ottosson, Tanja Poutiainen, Julia Mancuso, Deborah Compagnoni, Alexandra Meissnitzer, Anita Wachter and Martina Ertl are some of the famous skiers in the field of alpine skiing at the international level.