Slalom skiing

Alpine skiing discipline

This article is about the snow skiing discipline. For the water skiing activity, see Water skiing § Slalom.

Tonje Sekse competes in the slalom

Slalom is an alpine skiing and alpine snowboarding discipline, involving skiing between poles or gates. These are spaced more closely than those in giant slalom, super giant slalom and downhill, necessitating quicker and shorter turns. Internationally, the sport is contested at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, and at the Olympic Winter Games.

## History

[edit]

Main article: History of skiing

Nathalie Eklund skis slalom at Trysil, Norway in 2011

The term slalom comes from the Morgedal/Seljord dialect of the Norwegian word "slalåm": "sla", meaning "slightly inclining hillside", and "låm", meaning "track after skis".[1] The inventors of modern skiing classified their trails according to their difficulty:

* Slalåm was a trail used in Telemark by boys and girls not yet able to try themselves on the more challenging runs.
* Ufsilåm was a trail with one obstacle (ufse) like a jump, a fence, a difficult turn, a gorge, a cliff (often more than 10 metres (33 ft) high), et cetera.
* Uvyrdslåm was a trail with several obstacles.[2]

A Norwegian military downhill competition in 1767 included racing downhill among trees "without falling or breaking skis". Sondre Norheim and other skiers from Telemark practiced uvyrdslåm or "disrespectful/reckless downhill" where they raced downhill in difficult and untested terrain (i.e., off piste). The 1866 "ski race" in Oslo was a combined cross-country, jumping and slalom competition. In the slalom participants were allowed use poles for braking and steering, and they were given points for style (appropriate skier posture). During the late 19th century Norwegian skiers participated in all branches (jumping, slalom, and cross-country) often with the same pair of skis. Slalom and variants of slalom were often referred to as hill races. Around 1900 hill races were abandoned in the Oslo championships at Huseby and Holmenkollen. Mathias Zdarsky's development of the Lilienfeld binding helped change hill races into a specialty of the Alps region.[3]

The rules for the modern slalom were developed by Arnold Lunn in 1922 for the British National Ski Championships, and adopted for alpine skiing at the 1936 Winter Olympics. Under these rules gates were marked by pairs of flags rather than single ones, were arranged so that the racers had to use a variety of turn lengths to negotiate them, and scoring was on the basis of time alone, rather than on both time and style.[4][5]

## Course

[edit]

Example of a slalom course, whereby the skier passes through pairs of poles (gates) of alternating colors on this German language diagram. Ziel stands for the finish line.

A course is constructed by laying out a series of gates, formed by alternating pairs of red and blue poles. The skier must pass between the two poles forming the gate, with the tips of both skis and the skier's feet passing between the poles. A course has 55 to 75 gates for men and 40 to 60 for women. The vertical drop for a men's course is 180 to 220 m (591 to 722 ft) and measures slightly less for women.[6] The gates are arranged in a variety of configurations to challenge the competitor.

## Clearing the gates

[edit]

Traditionally, bamboo poles were used for gates, the rigidity of which forced skiers to maneuver their entire body around each gate.[7] In the early 1980s, rigid poles were replaced by hard plastic poles, hinged at the base. The hinged gates require, according to FIS rules, only that the skis and boots of the skier go around each gate.

The new gates allow a more direct path down a slalom course through the process of cross-blocking or shinning the gates.[8] Cross-blocking is a technique in which the legs go around the gate with the upper body inclined toward, or even across, the gate; in this case the racer's outside pole and shinguards hit the gate, knocking it down and out of the way. Cross-blocking is done by pushing the gate down with the arms, hands, or shins.[9] By 1989, most of the top technical skiers in the world had adopted the cross-block technique.[10]

## Equipment

[edit]

Bottom: 2013 FIS legal slalom race skis, top: giant slalom race skis from 2006

With the innovation of shaped skis around the turn of the 21st century, equipment used for slalom in international competition changed drastically. World Cup skiers commonly skied on slalom skis at a length of 203–207 centimetres (79.9–81.5 in) in the 1980s and 1990s but by the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, the majority of competitors were using skis measuring 160 cm (63.0 in) or less.

The downside of the shorter skis was that athletes found that recoveries were more difficult with a smaller platform underfoot. Out of concern for the safety of athletes, the FIS began to set minimum ski lengths for international slalom competition. The minimum was initially set at 155 cm (61.0 in) for men and 150 cm (59.1 in) for women, but was increased to 165 cm (65.0 in) for men and 155 cm (61.0 in) for women for the 2003–2004 season.

The equipment minimums and maximums imposed by the International Ski Federation (FIS) have created a backlash from skiers, suppliers, and fans. The main objection is that the federation is regressing the equipment, and hence the sport, by two decades.[11]

American Bode Miller hastened the shift to the shorter, more radical sidecut skis when he achieved unexpected success after becoming the first Junior Olympic athlete to adopt the equipment in giant slalom and super-G in 1996. A few years later, the technology was adapted to slalom skis as well.

## Men's slalom World Cup podiums

[edit]

In the following table men's slalom World Cup podiums in the World Cup since first season in 1967.[12]

Season  | 1st  | 2nd  | 3rd

|
|
|

1967 |  Jean-Claude Killy |  Guy Perillat |  Heinrich Messner
1968 |  Dumeng Giovanoli |  Jean-Claude Killy |  Patrick Russel
1969 |  Alain Penz
Alfred Matt
Jean-Noel Augert
Patrick Russel |
1970 |  Alain Penz |  Jean-Noël Augert
Patrick Russel |
1971 |  Jean-Noël Augert |  Gustav Thöni |  Tyler Palmer
1972 |  Jean-Noël Augert |  Andrzej Bachleda |  Roland Thöni
1973 |  Gustav Thöni |  Christian Neureuther |  Jean-Noël Augert
1974 |  Gustav Thöni |  Christian Neureuther |  Johann Kniewasser
1975 |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Gustav Thöni |  Piero Gros
1976 |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Piero Gros |  Gustav Thöni
Hans Hinterseer
1977 |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Klaus Heidegger |  Paul Frommelt
1978 |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Klaus Heidegger |  Phil Mahre
1979 |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Phil Mahre |  Christian Neureuther
1980 |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Bojan Križaj |  Christian Neureuther
1981 |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Phil Mahre |  Bojan Križaj
Steve Mahre
1982 |  Phil Mahre |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Steve Mahre
1983 |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Stig Strand |  Andreas Wenzel
1984 |  Marc Girardelli |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Franz Gruber
1985 |  Marc Girardelli |  Paul Frommelt |  Ingemar Stenmark
1986 |  Rok Petrovič |  Bojan Križaj
Ingemar Stenmark
Paul Frommelt |
1987 |  Bojan Križaj |  Ingemar Stenmark |  Armin Bittner
1988 |  Alberto Tomba |  Günther Mader |  Felix McGrath
1989 |  Armin Bittner |  Alberto Tomba |  Marc Girardelli
Ole Kristian Furuseth
1990 |  Armin Bittner |  Alberto Tomba
Ole Kristian Furuseth |
1991 |  Marc Girardelli |  Ole Kristian Furuseth |  Rudolf Nierlich
1992 |  Alberto Tomba |  Paul Accola |  Finn Christian Jagge
1993 |  Thomas Fogdö |  Alberto Tomba |  Thomas Stangassinger
1994 |  Alberto Tomba |  Thomas Stangassinger |  Jure Košir
1995 |  Alberto Tomba |  Michael Tritscher |  Jure Košir
1996 |  Sebastien Amiez |  Alberto Tomba |  Thomas Sykora
1997 |  Thomas Sykora |  Thomas Stangassinger |  Finn Christian Jagge
1998 |  Thomas Sykora |  Thomas Stangassinger |  Hans Petter Buraas
1999 |  Thomas Stangassinger |  Jure Košir |  Finn Christian Jagge
2000 |  Kjetil André Aamodt |  Ole Kristian Furuseth |  Matjaž Vrhovnik
2001 |  Benjamin Raich |  Heinz Schilchegger |  Mario Matt
2002 |  Ivica Kostelić |  Bode Miller |  Jean-Pierre Vidal
2003 |  Kalle Palander |  Ivica Kostelić |  Rainer Schönfelder
2004 |  Rainer Schönfelder |  Kalle Palander |  Benjamin Raich
2005 |  Benjamin Raich |  Rainer Schönfelder |  Manfred Pranger
2006 |  Giorgio Rocca |  Kalle Palander |  Benjamin Raich
2007 |  Benjamin Raich |  Mario Matt |  Jens Byggmark
2008 |  Manfred Mölgg |  Jean-Baptiste Grange |  Reinfried Herbst
2009 |  Jean-Baptiste Grange |  Ivica Kostelić |  Julien Lizeroux
2010 |  Reinfried Herbst |  Julien Lizeroux |  Silvan Zurbriggen
2011 |  Ivica Kostelić |  Jean-Baptiste Grange |  André Myhrer
2012 |  André Myhrer |  Ivica Kostelić |  Marcel Hirscher
2013 |  Marcel Hirscher |  Felix Neureuther |  Ivica Kostelić
2014 |  Marcel Hirscher |  Felix Neureuther |  Henrik Kristoffersen
2015 |  Marcel Hirscher |  Felix Neureuther |  Alexander Khoroshilov
2016 |  Henrik Kristoffersen |  Marcel Hirscher |  Felix Neureuther
2017 |  Marcel Hirscher |  Henrik Kristoffersen |  Manfred Mölgg
2018 |  Marcel Hirscher |  Henrik Kristoffersen |  André Myhrer
2019 |  Marcel Hirscher |  Clément Noël |  Daniel Yule
2020 |  Henrik Kristoffersen |  Clément Noël |  Daniel Yule
2021 |  Marco Schwarz |  Clément Noël |  Ramon Zenhäusern
2022 |  Henrik Kristoffersen |  Manuel Feller |  Atle Lie McGrath
2023 |  Lucas Braathen |  Henrik Kristoffersen |  Ramon Zenhäusern
2024 |  Manuel Feller |  Linus Straßer |  Timon Haugan

## Women's slalom World Cup podiums

[edit]

In the following table women's slalom World Cup podiums in the World Cup since first season in 1967.[13]

Season  | 1st  | 2nd  | 3rd

|
|
|

1967 |  Annie Famose |  Marielle Goitschel |  Nancy Greene
1968 |  Marielle Goitschel |  Gertrud Gabl
Florence Steurer
1969 |  Gertrud Gabl |  Kiki Cutter |  Ingrid Lafforgue
1970 |  Ingrid Lafforgue |  Barbara Cochran
Michèle Jacot
1971 |  Betsy Clifford |  Britt Lafforgue |  Barbara Cochran
Annemarie Moser-Pröll
1972 |  Britt Lafforgue |  Françoise Macchi
Florence Steurer
1973 |  Patricia Emonet |  Rosi Mittermaier |  Monika Kaserer
1974 |  Christa Zechmeister |  Rosi Mittermaier |  Fabienne Serrat
1975 |  Lise-Marie Morerod |  Hanni Wenzel |  Christa Zechmeister
1976 |  Rosi Mittermaier |  Lise-Marie Morerod |  Danièle Debernard
1977 |  Lise-Marie Morerod |  Perrine Pelen |  Claudia Giordani
1978 |  Hanni Wenzel |  Perrine Pelen |  Fabienne Serrat
1979 |  Regina Sackl |  Annemarie Moser-Pröll |  Lea Sölkner
1980 |  Perrine Pelen |  Hanni Wenzel |  Annemarie Moser-Pröll
1981 |  Erika Hess |  Christin Cooper |  Daniela Zini
1982 |  Erika Hess |  Ursula Konzett |  Christin Cooper
1983 |  Erika Hess |  Roswitha Steiner |  Maria Rosa Quario
1984 |  Tamara McKinney |  Roswitha Steiner |  Perrine Pelen
1985 |  Erika Hess |  Tamara McKinney |  Perrine Pelen
1986 |  Roswitha Steiner |  Erika Hess |  Perrine Pelen
1987 |  Corinne Schmidhauser |  Tamara McKinney |  Erika Hess
1988 |  Roswitha Steiner |  Vreni Schneider |  Anita Wachter
1989 |  Vreni Schneider |  Monika Maierhofer |  Tamara McKinney
1990 |  Vreni Schneider |  Claudia Strobl |  Ida Ladstätter
1991 |  Petra Kronberger |  Pernilla Wiberg |  Blanca Fernández Ochoa
1992 |  Vreni Schneider |  Pernilla Wiberg |  Blanca Fernández Ochoa
1993 |  Vreni Schneider |  Annelise Coberger |  Patricia Chauvet
1994 |  Vreni Schneider |  Pernilla Wiberg |  Urska Hrovat
1995 |  Vreni Schneider |  Pernilla Wiberg |  Martina Ertl
1996 |  Elfi Eder |  Urska Hrovat |  Pernilla Wiberg
1997 |  Pernilla Wiberg |  Claudia Riegler |  Deborah Compagnoni
1998 |  Ylva Nowén |  Kristina Koznick |  Hilde Gerg
1999 |  Sabine Egger |  Pernilla Wiberg |  Anja Pärson
2000 |  Špela Pretnar |  Christel Pascal |  Anja Pärson
2001 |  Janica Kostelić |  Sonja Nef |  Martina Ertl
2002 |  Laure Pequegnot |  Kristina Koznick |  Anja Pärson
2003 |  Janica Kostelić |  Anja Pärson |  Tanja Poutiainen
2004 |  Anja Pärson |  Marlies Schild |  Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer
2005 |  Tanja Poutiainen |  Janica Kostelić |  Marlies Schild
2006 |  Janica Kostelić |  Marlies Schild |  Anja Pärson
2007 |  Marlies Schild |  Nicole Hosp |  Veronika Zuzulová
2008 |  Marlies Schild |  Nicole Hosp |  Veronika Zuzulová
2009 |  Maria Riesch |  Šárka Záhrobská |  Lindsey Vonn
2010 |  Maria Riesch |  Kathrin Zettel |  Marlies Schild
2011 |  Marlies Schild |  Tanja Poutiainen |  Maria Riesch
2012 |  Marlies Schild |  Michaela Kirchgasser |  Tina Maze
2013 |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Tina Maze |  Veronika Velez-Zuzulová
2014 |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Frida Hansdotter |  Marlies Schild
2015 |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Frida Hansdotter |  Tina Maze
2016 |  Frida Hansdotter |  Veronika Velez-Zuzulová |  Wendy Holdener
2017 |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Veronika Velez-Zuzulová |  Wendy Holdener
2018 |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Wendy Holdener |  Frida Hansdotter
2019 |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Petra Vlhová |  Wendy Holdener
2020 |  Petra Vlhová |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Katharina Liensberger
2021 |  Katharina Liensberger |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Petra Vlhová
2022 |  Petra Vlhová |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Lena Dürr
2023 |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Wendy Holdener |  Petra Vlhová
2024 |  Mikaela Shiffrin |  Lena Dürr |  Petra Vlhová

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Kunnskapsforlagets idrettsleksikon. Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget, 1990, p.273.
2. ^ NAHA // Norwegian-American Studies
3. ^ Bergsland, E.: På ski. Oslo: Aschehoug, 1946, p.27.
4. ^ Hussey, Elisabeth. "The Man Who Changed the Face of Alpine Skiing", Skiing Heritage, December 2005, p. 9.
5. ^ Bergsland, Einar (1952). Skiing: a way of life in Norway. Oslo: Aschehoug.
6. ^ Slade, Daryl (February 12, 1988). "Alpine evolution continues". Ocala (FL) Star-Banner. Universal Press Syndicate. p. 4E.
7. ^ "Alpine skiing: Stenmark on slalom". Observer-Reporter. Washington, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. February 13, 1994. p. C7.
8. ^ McMillan, Ian (February 28, 1984). "A new line in slalom poles". Glasgow Herald. p. 24.
9. ^ Bell, Martin. "A matter of course". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
10. ^ Gurshman, Greg. "To Cross-Block or Not To Cross-Block?". Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
11. ^ "Giant Slalom Racers Object to a Mandate on New Equipment". The New York Times. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2022-01-01. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
12. ^ "Winter Sports Chart - Alpine Skiing". wintersport-charts.info. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
13. ^ "Winter Sports Chart - Alpine Skiing". wintersport-charts.info. Retrieved 11 February 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Slalom skiing at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Skiing and snowboarding

* History of skiing
* Glossary of skiing and snowboarding terms

Nordic skiing|

| Competitive|

* Cross-country skiing
* Paralympic
* Ski jumping
* Ski flying
* Nordic combined

|

Endurance|

* Ski marathon
* Ski orienteering
* Ski touring

Recreational|

* Cross-country skiing
* Backcountry skiing
* Roller skiing
* Skijoring

Alpine skiing|

| Olympic disciplines|

* Slalom
* Giant slalom
* Super-G
* Downhill
* Combined

|

Other disciplines|

* Extreme skiing
* Glade skiing
* Heliskiing
* Para-alpine skiing
* Speed skiing

Other skiing|

* Biathlon
* Indoor skiing
* Night skiing
* Ski archery
* Para biathlon
* Ski mountaineering
* Telemark skiing

Freestyle skiing|

* Aerial skiing
* Big air
* Freeriding
* Freeskiing
* Half-pipe skiing
* Mogul
* Ski ballet
* Ski cross
* Slopestyle

Snowboarding|

* Alpine
* Backcountry
* Big air
* Freeriding
* Freestyle
* Half-pipe
* Para snowboard
* Slopestyle
* Snowboard cross
* Snowboard racing

Technique / learning|

* Carved turn
* Jump turn
* Parallel turn
* Pivot turn
* Snowplough
* Stem christie
* Ski school
* Ski simulator
* Skate skiing

Equipment|

* Bindings
* Boots
* Helmet
* Monoski
* Poles
* Skins
* Skis
* List of ski brands
* Snowboard
* Suit
* Wax

Resort amenities|

* Dry ski slope
* Half-pipe
* Superpipe
* Piste
* Ski area
* Ski tunnel
* Snow grooming
* Snowmaking
* Trail

| Ski lifts|

* Aerial tramway
* Chairlift
* detachable
* Funicular
* Funifor
* Funitel
* Gondola lift
* bicable
* tricable
* Hybrid lift
* Surface lift

|

* Category:Skiing
* Category:Snowboarding

Authority control databases: National |

* Germany

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template