Giant slalom

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A skier attacks a gate in GS

Giant slalom (GS) is an alpine skiing and alpine snowboarding competitive discipline. It involves racing between sets of poles ("gates") spaced at a greater distance from each other than in slalom but less than in Super-G.

Giant slalom and slalom make up the technical events in alpine ski racing. This category separates them from the speed events of Super-G and downhill. The technical events are normally composed of two runs, held on different courses on the same ski run.

Course[edit]

The vertical drop for a GS course must be 250–450 m (820–1,480 ft) for men, and 250–400 m (820–1,310 ft) for women. The number of gates in this event is 56–70 for men and 46–58 for women. The number of direction changes in a GS course equals 11–15% of the vertical drop of the course in metres, 13–18% for children. As an example, a course with a vertical drop of 300 m (984 ft) would have 33–45 direction changes for an adult race.[1]

Speed[edit]

Olympian Lotte Smiseth Sejersted
in a GS race

Although giant slalom is not the fastest event in skiing, on average a well-trained racer may reach average speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph).[citation needed]

Equipment[edit]

Top: giant slalom skis from 2006,
bottom: slalom skis.

Giant slalom skis are shorter than super-G and downhill skis, and longer than slalom skis.

In an attempt to increase safety for the 2003–04 season, the International Ski Federation (FIS) increased the minimum sidecut radius for giant slalom skis to 21 m (69 ft) and for the first time imposed minimum ski lengths for GS: 185 cm (72.8 in) for men and 180 cm (70.9 in) for women. A maximum stand height (the distance from the snow to the sole of the boot) of 55 mm (2.17 in) was also established for all disciplines.

In May 2006, the FIS announced further changes to the rules governing equipment. Beginning with the 2007–08 season, the minimum radius for GS skis was increased to 27 m (89 ft) for men and 23 m (75 ft) for women. Additionally, the minimum ski width at the waist was increased from 60 to 65 mm (2.36 to 2.56 in), and the maximum stand height for all disciplines was reduced to 50 mm (1.97 in).[1] The best skiers tended to use a bigger sidecut radius, like Ted Ligety at 29 m (95 ft), and Lindsey Vonn at 27 m (89 ft).

For the 2012–13 season, the FIS increased the sidecut radius to 35 m (115 ft) and the minimal length to 195 cm (76.8 in). Many athletes criticized this decision. Often David Dodge was cited. Dodge argues that FIS used studies which do not represent a scientific proof. He states that it is well known that if one tips the ski 7° more the 35 m ski will have the same turning radius as the 28 m ski. He states as well that knee injuries are decreasing since the 1990s, when carving skis started to be used.[2][3][4][5][6]

History[edit]

The first giant slalom was set in 1935 on the Mottarone in Italy, over Lake Maggiore, near Stresa, on January 20.[7] After one month, the second giant slalom was set on the Marmolada in Italy's Dolomite mountains, by Guenther Langes.[8]

The giant slalom was added to the world championships in 1950 at Aspen, Colorado, and debuted at the Winter Olympics in 1952 at Oslo, Norway, run at Norefjell. The GS has been run in every world championships and Olympics since. Originally a one-run event, a second run was added for men at the world championships in 1966, run on consecutive days, and at the Olympics in 1968. The second run for women was added at the world championships in 1978, and made its Olympic debut in 1980.

The world championships changed to a one-day format for the giant slalom in 1974, but the Olympics continued the GS as a two-day event through 1980. Also scheduled for two days in 1984, both giant slaloms became one-day events after repeated postponements of the downhills. Following the extra races added to the program in 1988, the GS has been scheduled as a one-day event at the Olympics.

Upon its introduction, giant slalom briefly displaced the combined event at the world championships; it was absent in 1950 and 1952. The combined returned in 1954 in Åre, Sweden, but as a "paper race," using the results of the three events (downhill, giant slalom, and slalom), a format used through 1980. The combined returned as a stand-alone event at the world championships in 1982 at Schladming, Austria, and at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. It was changed to the super-combined format (one run of slalom on same day as downhill) at the world championships in 2007 and the Olympics in 2010.

Men's World Cup podiums[edit]

In the following table men's giant slalom World Cup podiums from the World Cup first edition in 1967.[9]

Season 1st 2nd 3rd
1967 France Jean-Claude Killy France Georges Mauduit United States Jimmy Heuga
1968 France Jean-Claude Killy Switzerland Edmund Bruggmann Austria Herbert Huber
1969 Austria Karl Schranz Austria Reinhard Tritscher France Jean-Noel Augert
1970 Italy Gustav Thöni Switzerland Patrick Russel
France Dumeng Giovanoli
1971 Italy Gustav Thöni
France Patrick Russel
Switzerland Edmund Bruggmann
1972 Italy Gustav Thöni Switzerland Edmund Bruggmann France Rogers Rossat-Mignod
1973 Austria Hans Hinterseer Norway Erik Håker Switzerland Adolf Rösti
1974 Italy Piero Gros Austria Hans Hinterseer Italy Gustav Thöni
1975 Sweden Ingemar Stenmark Italy Piero Gros Norway Erik Håker
1976 Sweden Ingemar Stenmark Italy Gustav Thöni Italy Piero Gros
1977 Sweden Ingemar Stenmark
Switzerland Heini Hemmi
Austria Klaus Heidegger
1978 Sweden Ingemar Stenmark Liechtenstein Andreas Wenzel United States Phil Mahre
1979 Sweden Ingemar Stenmark Switzerland Peter Lüscher Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bojan Križaj
1980 Sweden Ingemar Stenmark Austria Hans Enn Switzerland Jacques Lüthy
1981 Sweden Ingemar Stenmark Soviet Union Alexander Zhirov United States Phil Mahre
1982 United States Phil Mahre Sweden Ingemar Stenmark Luxembourg Marc Girardelli
1983 United States Phil Mahre Sweden Ingemar Stenmark
Switzerland Max Julen
1984 Sweden Ingemar Stenmark
Switzerland Pirmin Zurbriggen
Austria Hans Enn
1985 Luxembourg Marc Girardelli Switzerland Pirmin Zurbriggen Switzerland Thomas Bürgler
1986 Switzerland Joël Gaspoz Sweden Ingemar Stenmark Austria Hubert Strolz
1987 Switzerland Pirmin Zurbriggen
Switzerland Joël Gaspoz
Italy Richard Pramotton
1988 Italy Alberto Tomba Austria Hubert Strolz Austria Helmut Mayer
1989 Norway Ole Kristian Furuseth
Switzerland Pirmin Zurbriggen
Austria Rudolf Nierlich
1990 Austria Günther Mader
Norway Ole Kristian Furuseth
Austria Hubert Strolz
1991 Italy Alberto Tomba Austria Rudolf Nierlich Luxembourg Marc Girardelli
1992 Italy Alberto Tomba Switzerland Hans Pieren Switzerland Paul Accola
1993 Norway Kjetil André Aamodt Italy Alberto Tomba Luxembourg Marc Girardelli
1994 Austria Christian Mayer Norway Kjetil André Aamodt France Franck Piccard
1995 Italy Alberto Tomba Slovenia Jure Košir Norway Harald Strand Nilsen
1996 Switzerland Michael von Grünigen Switzerland Urs Kälin Norway Lasse Kjus
1997 Switzerland Michael von Grünigen Norway Kjetil André Aamodt Austria Hans Knauß
1998 Austria Hermann Maier Switzerland Michael von Grünigen Austria Christian Mayer
1999 Switzerland Michael von Grünigen Austria Stephan Eberharter Austria Hermann Maier
2000 Austria Hermann Maier Austria Christian Mayer Switzerland Michael von Grünigen
2001 Austria Hermann Maier Switzerland Michael von Grünigen United States Erik Schlopy
2002 France Frederic Covili Austria Benjamin Raich Austria Stephan Eberharter
2003 Switzerland Michael von Grünigen United States Bode Miller Austria Hans Knauß
2004 United States Bode Miller Finland Kalle Palander Italy Massimiliano Blardone
2005 Austria Benjamin Raich United States Bode Miller Canada Thomas Grandi
2006 Austria Benjamin Raich Italy Massimiliano Blardone Sweden Fredrik Nyberg
2007 Norway Aksel Lund Svindal Italy Massimiliano Blardone Austria Benjamin Raich
2008 United States Ted Ligety Austria Benjamin Raich Italy Manfred Mölgg
2009 Switzerland Didier Cuche Austria Benjamin Raich United States Ted Ligety
2010 United States Ted Ligety Switzerland Carlo Janka Austria Benjamin Raich
2011 United States Ted Ligety Norway Aksel Lund Svindal France Cyprien Richard
2012 Austria Marcel Hirscher United States Ted Ligety Italy Massimiliano Blardone
2013 United States Ted Ligety Austria Marcel Hirscher France Alexis Pinturault
2014 United States Ted Ligety Austria Marcel Hirscher France Alexis Pinturault
2015 Austria Marcel Hirscher France Alexis Pinturault United States Ted Ligety
2016 Austria Marcel Hirscher France Alexis Pinturault Norway Henrik Kristoffersen
2017 Austria Marcel Hirscher France Mathieu Faivre France Alexis Pinturault
2018 Austria Marcel Hirscher Norway Henrik Kristoffersen France Alexis Pinturault
2019 Austria Marcel Hirscher Norway Henrik Kristoffersen France Alexis Pinturault
2020 Norway Henrik Kristoffersen France Alexis Pinturault Croatia Filip Zubčić
2021 France Alexis Pinturault Switzerland Marco Odermatt Croatia Filip Zubčić
2022 Switzerland Marco Odermatt Norway Henrik Kristoffersen Austria Manuel Feller
2023 Switzerland Marco Odermatt Norway Henrik Kristoffersen Slovenia Žan Kranjec

Men's most podiums in World Cup[edit]

Racers with the most World Cup podiums in giant slalom.[10]

# Skier Total Last
1 Sweden Ingemar Stenmark 72 19-02-1989
2 Austria Marcel Hirscher 59 24-02-2019
3  Switzerland  Michael von Grünigen 46 15-03-2003
4 United States Ted Ligety 41 28-01-2018
5 France Alexis Pinturault 41 12-03-2023
6 Austria Benjamin Raich 35 01-03-2015
7 Switzerland Marco Odermatt 35 02-03-2024
8 Norway Henrik Kristoffersen 32 24-02-2024
9 Italy Alberto Tomba 31 06-01-1998
10 Austria Hermann Maier 28 23-10-2005
11 United States Phil Mahre 26 05-03-1984
12 Italy Gustav Thöni 26 02-01-1977
13 Luxembourg Marc Girardelli 26 27-03-1993
14 Italy Massimiliano Blardone 25 13-02-2016
15 United States Bode Miller 21 08-12-2013
  Still active
Totals through 02 March 2024

Women's World Cup podiums[edit]

In the following table women's giant slalom World Cup podiums from the World Cup first edition in 1967.

Season 1st 2nd 3rd
1967 Canada Nancy Greene Austria Erika Schinegger France Annie Famose
1968 Canada Nancy Greene Switzerland Fernande Bochatay France Florence Steurer
1969 United States Marilyn Cochran France Michèle Jacot Austria Gertrud Gabl
1970 France Michèle Jacot
France Françoise Macchi
Austria Annemarie Moser-Pröll
1971 Austria Annemarie Moser-Pröll France Michèle Jacot France Françoise Macchi
1972 Austria Annemarie Moser-Pröll Austria Monika Kaserer France Britt Lafforgue
1973 Austria Monika Kaserer Austria Annemarie Moser-Pröll Liechtenstein Hanni Wenzel
1974 Liechtenstein Hanni Wenzel France Fabienne Serrat Austria Monika Kaserer
1975 Austria Annemarie Moser-Pröll France Fabienne Serrat Austria Monika Kaserer
1976 Switzerland Lise-Marie Morerod Austria Monika Kaserer Germany Rosi Mittermaier
1977 Switzerland Lise-Marie Morerod Austria Monika Kaserer Austria Annemarie Moser-Pröll
1978 Switzerland Lise-Marie Morerod Liechtenstein Hanni Wenzel Germany Maria Epple
1979 Germany Christa Kinshofer Liechtenstein Hanni Wenzel Germany Irene Epple
1980 Liechtenstein Hanni Wenzel Switzerland Marie-Thérèse Nadig
France Perrine Pelen
1981 United States Tamara McKinney Switzerland Marie-Thérèse Nadig Germany Irene Epple
Switzerland Erika Hess
Liechtenstein Hanni Wenzel
1982 Germany Irene Epple Germany Maria Epple Switzerland Erika Hess
1983 United States Tamara McKinney United States Cindy Nelson Germany Maria Epple
1984 Switzerland Erika Hess United States Christin Cooper United States Tamara McKinney
1985 Switzerland Michela Figini
Germany Marina Kiehl
Switzerland Vreni Schneider
1986 Switzerland Vreni Schneider Germany Traudl Hächer Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mateja Svet
1987 Switzerland Vreni Schneider
Switzerland Maria Walliser
Spain Blanca Fernández Ochoa
1988 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mateja Svet France Catherine Quittet Switzerland Vreni Schneider
1989 Switzerland Vreni Schneider Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mateja Svet Switzerland Maria Walliser
1990 Austria Anita Wachter Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mateja Svet Austria Petra Kronberger
1991 Switzerland Vreni Schneider Austria Anita Wachter Sweden Pernilla Wiberg
1992 France Carole Merle Switzerland Vreni Schneider United States Diann Roffe
1993 France Carole Merle Austria Anita Wachter Germany Martina Ertl
1994 Austria Anita Wachter Switzerland Vreni Schneider Italy Deborah Compagnoni
1995 Switzerland Vreni Schneider Switzerland Heidi Zeller-Bähler Slovenia Špela Pretnar
1996 Germany Martina Ertl Germany Katja Seizinger Austria Anita Wachter
1997 Italy Deborah Compagnoni Germany Katja Seizinger Austria Anita Wachter
1998 Germany Martina Ertl Italy Deborah Compagnoni Austria Alexandra Meissnitzer
1999 Austria Alexandra Meissnitzer Austria Anita Wachter Norway Andrine Flemmen
2000 Austria Michaela Dorfmeister Switzerland Sonja Nef Austria Anita Wachter
2001 Switzerland Sonja Nef Sweden Anja Pärson Austria Michaela Dorfmeister
2002 Switzerland Sonja Nef Austria Michaela Dorfmeister Sweden Anja Pärson
2003 Sweden Anja Pärson Italy Karen Putzer Croatia Janica Kostelić
2004 Sweden Anja Pärson Italy Denise Karbon Spain María José Rienda
2005 Finland Tanja Poutiainen Sweden Anja Pärson Spain María José Rienda
2006 Sweden Anja Pärson Spain María José Rienda Croatia Janica Kostelić
2007 Austria Nicole Hosp Finland Tanja Poutiainen Austria Michaela Kirchgasser
2008 Italy Denise Karbon Austria Elisabeth Görgl Italy Manuela Mölgg
2009 Finland Tanja Poutiainen Austria Kathrin Zettel Slovenia Tina Maze
2010 Germany Kathrin Hölzl Austria Kathrin Zettel Slovenia Tina Maze
2011 Germany Viktoria Rebensburg France Tessa Worley Finland Tanja Poutiainen
2012 Germany Viktoria Rebensburg United States Lindsey Vonn France Tessa Worley
2013 Slovenia Tina Maze Austria Anna Fenninger Germany Viktoria Rebensburg
2014 Austria Anna Fenninger Sweden Jessica Lindell-Vikarby Sweden Maria Pietilä Holmner
2015 Austria Anna Fenninger Austria Eva-Maria Brem United States Mikaela Shiffrin
2016 Austria Eva-Maria Brem Germany Viktoria Rebensburg Switzerland Lara Gut-Behrami
2017 France Tessa Worley United States Mikaela Shiffrin Italy Sofia Goggia
2018 Germany Viktoria Rebensburg France Tessa Worley United States Mikaela Shiffrin
2019 United States Mikaela Shiffrin Slovakia Petra Vlhová France Tessa Worley
2020 Italy Federica Brignone Slovakia Petra Vlhová United States Mikaela Shiffrin
2021 Italy Marta Bassino United States Mikaela Shiffrin France Tessa Worley
2022 France Tessa Worley Sweden Sara Hector United States Mikaela Shiffrin

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "The International Ski Competition Rules" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-25. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  2. ^ Ted Ligety, Skiing's Most Outspoken Critic, Is Still the Best in the World, bleacher report, 2012-10-28.
  3. ^ A Letter To FIS, David Dodge, 2011.
  4. ^ "More FIS regulation talk | Warner Nickerson". warnernickerson.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  5. ^ Update on Injury Trends in Alpine Skiing, Johnson, Etlinger, Shealy, Update on Injury Trends in Alpine Skiing, 2009
  6. ^ Unfälle und Verletzungen im alpinen Skisport Archived 2011-11-25 at the Wayback Machine, David Schulz, Auswertungsstelle für Skiunfälle, Stiftung Sicherheit im Skisport, 2011.
  7. ^ Francesco Vida. La storia dello sci in Italia.
  8. ^ Allen, John (2010-01-31). "First Giant Slalom". Skiing Heritage. International Skiing History Assoc. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  9. ^ "Winter Sports Chart - Alpine Skiing". wintersport-charts.info. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  10. ^ "GIANT SLALOM - COMPETITORS HAVING MORE THAN ONE PODIUM". fis-ski.com. Retrieved 5 February 2018.

External links[edit]