In case you remember nothing else from this piece, keep in mind that there are two broad categories of alpine skiing events in Beijing 2022: technical and speed.
Some skiers dabble in all six events, while the vast majority specialise in just one. Come February 20th, when the Games conclude, they will be the ones who appear the most exhausted.
Difference Between Slalom And Super G
The Slalom and the comic book sounding super-G are the speed events; the giant slalom and the slalom are the technical events; and combined is a combination of the two.
Every sport has both male and female competitors, and the mixed team parallel slalom made its debut at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang with great success.
In the speed events, competitors make only one run down the mountain at full speed. A more rhythmic swish-swish can be heard as skiers compete in the technical events, moving from one side of the slope to the other as they pass through strategically placed gates.
After the first run, only the 30 fastest participants advance to the second. Skiers then compete in reverse order, with the quickest skiers from the first run being the last to go in the second.
Slalom
The focus in Slalom skiing is on speed, hence the sport is rather simple. Courses for Slalom skiing often begin at the peak of the mountain and conclude at its base.
The road is typically littered with gates that must be traversed, as well as speedbumps in the form of sharp bends, flatter sections, and even some tiny jumps.
Equipment
The tips of skis are typically rounded and have a low profile. The skis are longer and have a tighter side cut than those used in Super-G.
Ski poles are flexible and can be bent to aid the skier navigate tight turns. Slalom skiers, like athletes in other alpine sports, protect themselves from the elements by donning skin-tight clothing and helmets.
Super-G
The Super-G style of skiing is a hybrid of downhill and giant slalom techniques. The course is shorter than in downhill, when an athlete does not stop running until he or she has successfully navigated all of the gates. The tuck position is the most common one employed in this race, and it places a premium on turning and technique.
Equipment
The ski poles are rigid and constructed from hard materials like metal or wood, making them effective for clearing the way. Skis have been shortened from their original lengths of 210 cm (80.7 in) for males to 205 cm (78.7 in) for both men and women.
For the 2013/2014 campaign, the bare minimum for a turn was pushed up to 45 metres. Common places for pads in SG races are on the arms, legs, and knees.
Super Giant Slalom, or Super G, is a speed event in which each skier takes one and only one run. Compared to the Giant Slalom course, this one is longer and features a steeper decline in elevation.
On the way downhill, athletes still have to pass through a series of gates (more gates than in the Giant Slalom), but the gates are spaced widely apart to account for the increased speed. Thanks for reading our article Difference Between Slalom And Super G.