super g ski course how many degrees of difficulty

by Frieda Hahn MD 9 min read

What is a super-G ski course?

 · Super-G. Super-G means super giant slalom . It combines the speed of downhill but the technical turning necessary of the giant slalom. The course winds more than the downhill course, but the gates ...

What is the minimum drop for Super-G skiing?

 · Super G (super giant slalom) – This event mixes the speed of downhill and technical aspects of slalom. The gates are spaced out for more speed and the course is more …

What is the difference between downhill and super-G skiing?

Super-G. Super-G skiing combines the elements of downhill and giant slalom. The length of the course is shorter than in downhill where the athlete completes one run while dodging the gates …

What is the difference between slalom and super G?

 · Saturday's near 60-degree temperatures certainly didn't help, either. As has happened in several other Alpine events, the sun went to work and left an uneven consistency …

How steep is the super-G course?

The vertical drop for a super-G course in the Olympics must be a minimum of 400 meters. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games consists of a 540-meter drop and a 1,984-meter long race for the women's division. As for the men, their vertical drop is a steep 645 meters, with their course length measuring at 2,267 meters.

Which is harder downhill or super-G?

Super G is more technical than Downhill because the vertical drop is less, and the gates are closer together.

Is the super-G hard?

If you set a super G that's difficult, it's really difficult. If you're a little on the lucky side with the set, then it might flow as well. It's one of the toughest if not the toughest super Gs we do every year,” Jansrud said. As far as sets go, Thursday's ranks on Jansrud's short list for tough.

What is the super-G race in skiing?

The supergiant slalom, or super-G, race is primarily a speed event, with many of the features of downhill skiing. The course is steeper and straighter than the other slalom events and features longer, more-sweeping turns taken at a higher speed.

Is super-G on the same course as downhill?

Super-G means super giant slalom. It combines the speed of downhill but the technical turning necessary of the giant slalom. The course winds more than the downhill course, but the gates are spaced out more so that the skiers can pick up speed.

How is super-G different from downhill?

Super-G. The super-G stands for super giant slalom, an event that combines the speed of downhill with the more precise turns of giant slalom. There's less of a vertical drop than the downhill and gates are placed closer together. Each skier makes one run down a single course and the fastest time wins.

How many skiers are in super-G?

47Alpine skiing at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Men's super-GMen's super-G at the XXIV Olympic Winter GamesAlpine skiingVenueRock, Yanqing DistrictDate8 FebruaryCompetitors47 from 21 nations4 more rows

What is the difference between GS and super-G?

Skiers make two runs for each event, and their times for both are combined. The Super G, as the Super Giant Slalom is known, is considered a speed event, and each skier makes only one run. The course is longer than the one for the Giant Slalom with a higher vertical drop.

How fast do they go on super-G?

The average speed in an Alphine Skiing downhill event is 60mph per hour (96km), while in super g events the speed is slightly lower due to obstacles on the track, athletes competing in super g reach speeds of 50mph per hour.

How many runs is a super-G ski race?

one runWith Super G there is only one run. Athletes are allowed to inspect the course but typically no training runs. Super G may have terrain and speeds where the racers catch air in the course.

How long is the super-G in skiing?

In an attempt to increase safety, the 2004 season saw the FIS impose minimum ski lengths for the super-G for the first time: to 205 cm (80.7 in) for men and 200 cm (78.7 in) for women. The minimum turning radius was increased to 45 m (148 ft) for the 2014 season.

How does super-G work?

Super giant slalom Like the downhill event, the super-G is decided by just one run. It has more gates than the downhill course, but fewer than in slalom or giant slalom. Because the super-G is a speed event, it has a higher vertical drop than either the slalom or giant slalom courses.

How many runs are there in super-G?

Each skier makes just one run down the course and the fastest time wins.

Slalom

The slalom is the shortest course in alpine skiing. It also has the most turns. Skiers have to navigate from one gate to the next. Cutting a turn too close or missing a gate altogether will incur a time penalty which could be the difference between a gold medal and no medal at all. Each skier makes two runs down the slalom course.

Giant Slalom

It's basically what it sounds like. It's a longer slalom course and the gates are spaced further apart. This is also a two-run event.

Downhill

This event is all about speed -- get down the course in the fastest time possible.

Alpine Combined

The alpine combined consists of one downhill run and one slalom run, both of which are completed on the same day. While the downhill can be performed on a super-G course, according to Olympics.com, the Beijing 2022 schedule has the events listed as downhill and slalom.

Mixed Team

The mixed team competition made its debut in 2018. Skiers go down, side-by-side, on identical slalom courses -- men vs. men and women vs. women. After each round, teams are knocked out until the medals are decided.

Who sets the individual ski courses?

Coaches of different skiers set the individual courses. The list of coaches (and skiers they represent) picked for creating runs is available at the FIS documents library here.

How many skiers qualify for the second run of slalom?

In Slalom and Giant Slalom, thirty best skiers from the first run qualify for the second run. They start the second run in reverse order. The thirtieth from the first-run starts as the first one in the second run. The best skier from the first-run starts like the last one (thirtieth) in the second run.

How many combinations are there in a slalom?

Rules for gates combinations: *each slalom must contain from one to three vertical combinations. *slalom must contain at least three hairpin combinations. *slalom must contain at least one but a maximum of three delay gate combinations.

How many poles does a slalom gate have?

Slalom is different from other disciplines. The gate consists of either two poles or just one turning pole.

How wide should a ski gate be?

The general rules for setting the poles are: *if the gate is made of two poles then the gate width must be from 4 to 6 meters. *consecutive gates must alternate in blue and red.

What is the name of the organization that sets the rules for all ski competitions?

International Ski Federation (FIS) is the organization that sets the rules for all ski competitions.

What is the most viewed sport in the world? Alpine skiing?

Alpine skiing is the most viewed from all skiing competitions. The thrill and the easy rules (the one who has the shortest time from start to finish wins) makes the downhill, super g, giant slalom, and slalom very attractive to sports fans. The rules are not very complicated, and even the average person understands enough to follow and build a passion for alpine skiing. Though, some questions arise as you become more familiar with the sport. For example, the most asked one is about the slalom course and the way how the poles are set. We did our homework and studied the rules to bring you all answers. Below you will find all you need to become a real expert in alpine skiing, especially slalom.

Background on Competitive Skiing

Skiing isn’t just fun – it’s also a serious sport. Skiing is such a physical sport that it became an official Olympic sport in 1936.

Downhill

It’s no secret that the olympic discipline includes one main skiing discipline full of prestige: Downhill. It’s very easy to get confused about the difference between the two, both of these disciplines are made up of race tracks usually on the same slopes. Both are single-run discipline as opposed to giant slalom and slalom which are two-runs.

Super G

These two types of ski racing are technically similar – and yet, very different.

Similarities

Although I was introduced to skiing as a young kid, I never had much interest or really understood what the difference was between many of the Alpine skiing events or techniques. All I knew was that I was being told of my speed in miles per hour.

Differences

Downhill skiing is one of four alpine skiing disciplines (along with Super G, giant slalom, and slalom). It is a timed race that takes place on a steep, downhill course, with a vertical drop of at least 450m (1,480 ft), but usually much more over the course of a trail.

Final Thoughts

Can you imagine moving down a 70%+ incline at highway speeds? That craziness applies to both disciplines downhill skiing as well as Super G. The sport of downhill skiing became a very popular in the first half of the 1900s, and the courses were designed to be longer to accommodate the speeds that the skiers were building.

What is Super G?

Super G (super giant slalom) – This event mixes the speed of downhill and technical aspects of slalom. The gates are spaced out for more speed and the course is more winding than a downhill course.

What is the difference between slalom and downhill skiing?

Slalom – While downhill focuses on speed, slalom is about technical skiing. Racers make their way through a course with a series of direction changes and must weave in and out of gates that are spaced closely together. Missing any of the gates results in disqualification.

What is super G skiing?

Super-G skiing combines the elements of downhill and giant slalom. The length of the course is shorter than in downhill where the athlete completes one run while dodging the gates that serve as obstacles. It focuses more on turning and technique with the tuck position being the most used in this race.

Why are Super G races started at a lower slope?

◼ The races in Super-G are started at a lower slope due to the gates that serve as obstacles and unseen speed bumps on the course. It focuses on turning and technique.

Who is the greatest super G racer?

Champions. ◼ Hermann Maier of Austria is widely regarded as the greatest super-G racer, with 24 World Cup victories, while Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. leads with 20 World Cup victories in Super-G and has won four season titles (2009-12).

Do downhill skiers wear helmets?

As in other alpine disciplines, downhill skiers wear skin-tight equipment and helmets to ensure protection against any external injury.

What is downhill skiing?

Downhill. Downhill skiing is a very straight-forward event with an emphasis on speed. The course for downhill skiing usually starts at the mountaintop and ends at the bottom of the slope. The pathway is usually filled with gates that you have to cross, accompanied with speed bumps like swift turns, dips and flats, and small jumps.

Is alpine skiing a sport?

But alpine skiing is a sport to watch out for in the Olympics. It’s about speed and technique. But there are other things like the equipment and the course length which also determine the race. There are five disciplines of alpine skiing; namely, Downhill, Slalom, Giant slalom, Super-G, and a combined race which has a downhill race ...

How many runs are there in Super G?

The races of Downhill alpine skiing and Super-G are decided in only one run.

What does Super G mean?

Super-G actually means “ super-giant slalom .” This event is a combination of the tight turns necessary for the slalom and the high speed of downhill. The skiers do this run once and the one who does it the fastest wins.

What is the shortest race in skiing?

The slalom race is the shortest race in length and also incorporates the quickest and tightest turns of all of the racing events. For this race, the skiers each take two runs down two different slalom courses, according to the International Ski Federation.

Which has fewer turns, the slalom or the giant slalom?

The giant slalom has fewer turns than the slalom does and the course runs a bit wider with more lengthy turns. This race has the same two-run rule, and for both the giant slalom and the slalom the times of both runs on the two courses are added and the racer with the fastest time wins.

How to tell if a cliff is too steep to ski?

Most of us know that if a cliff goes straight up, it’s a 90° angle. That’s too steep to ski. Cut that down quite a bit, say, to the angle of a modern staircase, which is about 38°. Still too steep for most people to ski. If you cut even that in half — less than 20° — you’d say that’s a very low angle staircase. But put on a pair of skis, and even most advanced skiers will pause at the top of a 19° slope to pick their route.

Do ski areas make claims?

Ski areas are notorious for making claims. They exaggerate almost as much as skiers. In fact, the ski area spokesman’s propensity to enhance and embellish the treachery of a steep trail is second only to those of us who ski them. We lobby for our favorites, dismiss those at lesser mountains, and generally have no clue about the facts. As for the ski resorts, they often speak in terms of “percent of grade” or some other obscure measure that is only understood by engineers. You can ask one to explain it, but chances are you’ll nod off during their ensuing discourse.

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Who Sets The Rules

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International Ski Federation (FIS) is the organization that sets the rules for all ski competitions. Its ski competition rules state requirements for all ski disciplines. The 134 pages material includes all the details from the course’s length, insurance policy requirements, the position of microphones or digital timers, to the penaltie…
See more on skiproguru.com

The Length of FIS Alpine Skiing Courses

  • The official rulebook does not set the exact length of competition courses. However, it states the minimum and maximum vertical drop of each discipline for men and ladies competitions. Vertical Drop for FIS World Cup, World Ski Championship, and Olympic Winter Games
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Number of Runs

  • The World Cup competitions are either one or two runs events. See in the table below every discipline and number of runs. In Slalom and Giant Slalom, thirty best skiers from the first run qualify for the second run. They start the second run in reverse order. The thirtieth from the first-run starts as the first one in the second run. The best skier from the first-run starts like the last o…
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Gates

  • The setting of the gates is easy to understand in Downhill, Super G, and Giant Slalom. However, it is a bit more complicated in Slalom.
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Who Sets The Course?

  • Coaches of different skiers set the individual courses. The list of coaches (and skiers they represent) picked for creating runs is available at the FIS documents library here.
See more on skiproguru.com

Summary

  • Now you have enough information to present yourself as an expert when watching FIS World Cup on TV. We hope that our short excerpt of the most important issues from the rules helped you. Suppose you want to know more, feel free to consult with full International Ski Competition Rules as published by FIS. They can be found hereor below in pdf reader. Click to access ICR_0207202…
See more on skiproguru.com

Background on Competitive Skiing

  • Skiing isn’t just fun – it’s also a serious sport. Skiing is such a physical sport that it became an official Olympic sport in 1936. As a competitive sport, skiing comes in two categories. Alpine skiing races come as slalom, giant slalom, super G, and downhill races. Super G stands for "super giant slalom". From slalom to downhill race the speed go...
See more on theskiresource.com

Downhill

  • It’s no secret that the olympic discipline includes one main skiing discipline full of prestige: Downhill. It’s very easy to get confused about the difference between the two, both of these disciplines are made up of race tracks usually on the same slopes. Both are single-run discipline as opposed to giant slalom and slalom which are two-runs. However, many people get confuse…
See more on theskiresource.com

Super G

  • These two types of ski racing are technically similar – and yet, very different. These two events are both a part of the Alpine Skiing events at the Winter Olympics. When the event was introduced in 1992, it became popular right away. Now, Super G has grown to become one of the most popular extreme events, and Super G skiers rank along their Downhill counterparts. It's a great c…
See more on theskiresource.com

Similarities

  • Although I was introduced to skiing as a young kid, I never had much interest or really understood what the difference was between many of the Alpine skiing events or techniques. All I knew was that I was being told of my speed in miles per hour. Learning about, Downhill skiing techniques and how to do it was fairly easy because you just need a steep ski hill. Usually, super G races tak…
See more on theskiresource.com

Differences

  • Downhill skiing is one of four alpine skiing disciplines (along with Super G, giant slalom, and slalom). It is a timed race that takes place on a steep, downhill course, with a vertical drop of at least 450m (1,480 ft), but usually much more over the course of a trail. There are fewer gates in downhill races, and Super G races are more technical. The skis on downhill racers are usually lo…
See more on theskiresource.com

Final Thoughts

  • Can you imagine moving down a 70%+ incline at highway speeds? That craziness applies to both disciplines downhill skiing as well as Super G. The sport of downhill skiing became a very popular in the first half of the 1900s, and the courses were designed to be longer to accommodate the speeds that the skiers were building. Since then, these courses have evolved to include all sorts …
See more on theskiresource.com