Slalom Skiing

Slalom skiing is a sport in the alpine skiing discipline that involves skiing through multiple poles called gates.

The length of skis used varies between riders, but the minimum length currently required is 165cm for men and 155cm for women. The other equipment commonly used by athletes is helmets, shin guards, and hand and face shields.

A slalom course consists of a series of alternating pairs of blue and red gates. The number of gates used is 55 to 75 for men and 40 to 60 for women. The gates are set in different types of configurations to make the race more challenging. For the men’s race, the height difference is 180 to 220 m, and it is slightly lower for the women’s race.

The rider’s goal is to get through the two poles that form the gate, with the feet and the tips of both skis passing through the poles. A race is disqualified if a runner misses any of the gates. The skier with the fastest time through the course is the winner.

Slalom skiing is a medal event for both men and women at the Winter Olympics. It is also part of the annual FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.