Alpine skiing, also known as ski racing, has been contested at every Winter Olympics since 1936. The sport tests athletes' ability to ski down a snow-covered mountain as fast as possible within a set course. Skiers race one-at-a-time against the clock in a time trial format. The nature of the course depends on the ski discipline.
Downhill is the fastest discipline, characterized by few turns and wide gates. Slalom is the slowest, most technical discipline featuring the greatest amount of turns and gates. Giant slalom and super-G combine elements of both, while the combined event requires skiers to race both downhill and slalom in the same competition. Since 2018, there is also a mixed team parallel slalom competition, in which skiers race side-by-side down identical courses.
Austria leads the all-time Olympic medal count with 121 (37 gold), followed by Switzerland with 66 (22 gold) and the United States with 47 (17 gold).
Competition format
Learn about the different disciplines of Alpine skiing and how they are contested at the Winter Olympics.
SEE MORE: Alpine Skiing 101: Competition format
Equipment
Learn about the equipment that Alpine skiers will use at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
SEE MORE: Alpine Skiing 101: Equipment
Venue
Learn more about the Yanqing Alpine Skiing Center, which will host Alpine skiing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
SEE MORE: Alpine Skiing 101: Venue
Qualification
Learn how athletes will qualify for Alpine skiing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
SEE MORE: Alpine Skiing 101: Qualification
Olympic history
Learn more about the history of Alpine skiing at the Olympic Winter Games.
SEE MORE: Alpine Skiing 101: Olympic History
Glossary
Learn the language of Alpine skiing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
SEE MORE: Alpine Skiing 101: Glossary
Since PyeongChang
Learn who's back to chase Alpine skiing gold in 2022, who's hung up their skis, and who's broken through since the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
SEE MORE: Alpine Skiing 101: Since PyeongChang
