Downhill
Encyclopedia
Downhill is an alpine skiing
discipline. The rules for the Downhill were originally developed by Sir Arnold Lunn
for the 1921 British National Ski Championships.
"Downhill skiing" is also commonly a term synonymous with "alpine skiing" to denote the sport and recreational activity of alpine skiing
in general.
The Downhill discipline involves the highest speeds and therefore the greatest risks of all the alpine events. Racers on a typical international-level course will exceed speeds of 130 km/h (81 mph) and some courses, such as the notable Lauberhorn
course in Wengen
, Switzerland
, and the Hahnenkamm
course in Kitzbühel
, Austria
, speeds of up to 150 km/h (93 mph) in certain sections are expected. Competing in the Downhill event requires of racers considerable strength and high speed technical expertise (ability to pump the jumps etc.), in contrast to the technical expertise required in lower speed slalom events (Super G, Giant Slalom & Slalom
).
that is closed off to the public and groomed specially for the race. Gates (which are always the same colour in Downhill, in contrast to the other alpine skiing
disciplines) are quite close together, but not in sight of each other. The courses in the world's most notable ski areas are well-established and do not change a lot from year to year.
The course is designed to challenge the best skiers in a variety of ways: skiing at high speeds, through challenging turns, shallow dips, flats, and small airs (jumps). A good course will have all these elements in it, as well as some jumps intended to complicate matters and thrill both the racer and the spectators.
Equipment for the Downhill is different from the alpine events that are lower-speed. Skis are 30% longer than those used in Slalom
, for more stability at high speed. They usually have rounded, low-profile tips rather than pointed tips. Ski poles are bent so as to curve around the body as the racer stays in a "tuck position" and may have aerodynamic, cone-shaped baskets. As in other alpine disciplines, Downhill racers wear skin-tight suits to minimize drag, and helmets are mandatory.
In an attempt to increase safety, the 2003-2004 season saw the FIS
increased the minimum sidecut
radius for Downhill skis to 45 metres (147.6 ft) from 40 metres (131.2 ft), and impose minimum ski lengths for the first time: 215 centimetres (7.1 ft) for men, and 210 centimetres (6.9 ft) for women.
Unlike Slalom and Giant Slalom, where racers have two combined times, in the Downhill, the race is a single "run." Times are typically between 1:30 (1 minute, 30 seconds) and 2:30 for World Cup courses and must be over 1 minute in length to meet international minimum standards. Tenths and hundredths and, occasionally, thousandths of seconds count: World Cup races and Olympic medals have sometimes been decided by as little as one or two hundredths of a second, and ties are not unheard of.
in 1994 and Gernot Reinstadler
and Frenchwoman Régine Cavagnoud
in 2001. Also in 2001, Swiss downhiller Silvano Beltrametti was paralyzed in a high-speed crash.
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
discipline. The rules for the Downhill were originally developed by Sir Arnold Lunn
Arnold Lunn
Sir Arnold Henry Moore Lunn was a famous skier, mountaineer and writer. He was knighted for "services to British Skiing and Anglo-Swiss relations" in 1952.He was born in Madras, India and died in London.-Early life:...
for the 1921 British National Ski Championships.
"Downhill skiing" is also commonly a term synonymous with "alpine skiing" to denote the sport and recreational activity of alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
in general.
The Downhill discipline involves the highest speeds and therefore the greatest risks of all the alpine events. Racers on a typical international-level course will exceed speeds of 130 km/h (81 mph) and some courses, such as the notable Lauberhorn
Lauberhorn
The Lauberhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland, located between Wengen and Grindelwald. Its summit is at an elevation of 8110 feet above sea level....
course in Wengen
Wengen
Wengen may refer to:*Wengen, a village and winter resort in Switzerland*La Val, a commune in South Tyrol, Italy with the German name "Wengen"*in Germany:**Wengen , a village in the municipality of Nennslingen in Mittelfranken...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and the Hahnenkamm
Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel
The Hahnenkamm is a mountain in Austria, directly south of Kitzbühel, in the Kitzbühel Alps. The elevation of its summit is above sea level.The Hahnenkamm is part of the ski resort of Kitzbühel, and hosts the annual World Cup alpine ski races, the Hahnenkammrennen...
course in Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel
-Demographic evolution:-Personalities:*Karl Wilhelm von Dalla Torre , entomologist and botanist*Alfons Walde , expressionist painter and architect*Peter Aufschnaiter , mountaineer and geographer...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, speeds of up to 150 km/h (93 mph) in certain sections are expected. Competing in the Downhill event requires of racers considerable strength and high speed technical expertise (ability to pump the jumps etc.), in contrast to the technical expertise required in lower speed slalom events (Super G, Giant Slalom & Slalom
Slalom
To slalom is to zigzag between obstacles. It can refer to:Sports:*Alpine Slalom skiing*Whitewater slalom/kayaking*Freestyle slalom skating*Slalom skateboarding*Slalom water skiing*Slalom ice skating*Slalom windsurfing...
).
Course
A typical Downhill course begins at or near the top of the mountain on a pistePiste
A piste is a marked ski run or path down a mountain for snow skiing, snowboarding, or other mountain sports. The term is European, from the French for trail or track, synonymous with trail, slope, or groomed run in North America....
that is closed off to the public and groomed specially for the race. Gates (which are always the same colour in Downhill, in contrast to the other alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
disciplines) are quite close together, but not in sight of each other. The courses in the world's most notable ski areas are well-established and do not change a lot from year to year.
The course is designed to challenge the best skiers in a variety of ways: skiing at high speeds, through challenging turns, shallow dips, flats, and small airs (jumps). A good course will have all these elements in it, as well as some jumps intended to complicate matters and thrill both the racer and the spectators.
Equipment
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
, for more stability at high speed. They usually have rounded, low-profile tips rather than pointed tips. Ski poles are bent so as to curve around the body as the racer stays in a "tuck position" and may have aerodynamic, cone-shaped baskets. As in other alpine disciplines, Downhill racers wear skin-tight suits to minimize drag, and helmets are mandatory.
In an attempt to increase safety, the 2003-2004 season saw the FIS
International Ski Federation
The International Ski Federation, known by its name in French, Fédération Internationale de Ski is the main international organisation for ski sports...
increased the minimum sidecut
Sidecut
The sidecut is a general term for the inner curvature of a ski, snowboard, or skiboard. The sidecut depth is measured as the distance between the waist of the board and an imaginary straight line that strikes both of the contact points at the tip and tail. The sidecut radius is the radial...
radius for Downhill skis to 45 metres (147.6 ft) from 40 metres (131.2 ft), and impose minimum ski lengths for the first time: 215 centimetres (7.1 ft) for men, and 210 centimetres (6.9 ft) for women.
Races
In all forms of Downhill, both at a local youth-level as well as the higher FIS international level, racers are allowed extensive preparation for the race, which includes daily course inspection and discussion with their coaches and teammates as well as several practice runs before the actual race. Racers do not make any unnecessary turns while on the course, and try to do everything they can to maintain the most aerodynamic position while negotiating turns and jumps.Unlike Slalom and Giant Slalom, where racers have two combined times, in the Downhill, the race is a single "run." Times are typically between 1:30 (1 minute, 30 seconds) and 2:30 for World Cup courses and must be over 1 minute in length to meet international minimum standards. Tenths and hundredths and, occasionally, thousandths of seconds count: World Cup races and Olympic medals have sometimes been decided by as little as one or two hundredths of a second, and ties are not unheard of.
Risks
Safety netting and padding are placed in worrisome areas where race officials anticipate crashes. Despite these safety precautions, the ski racing community is well aware of the inherent risks in Downhill skiing, for it is possible for racers to suffer serious injury or death while practicing or competing. Three Downhill-related deaths on the World Cup in recent years were those of Austrians Ulrike MaierUlrike Maier
Ulrike Maier was an Austrian alpine ski racer, two-time Super-G World Alpine Ski Champion.Born in Rauris, Maier won the Super-G gold medal at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in both 1989 and 1991. She also took home the giant slalom silver medal in the 1991 event...
in 1994 and Gernot Reinstadler
Gernot Reinstadler
Gernot Reinstadler was an Austrian ski racer. He was regarded as among the most promising young talents of the Austrian downhill team of the early 1990s....
and Frenchwoman Régine Cavagnoud
Régine Cavagnoud
Régine Cavagnoud was a French alpine skier. The 2001 Super-G World Champion, she was killed in a training accident.-Career:Régine Cavagnoud was born in Thônes, Haute-Savoie....
in 2001. Also in 2001, Swiss downhiller Silvano Beltrametti was paralyzed in a high-speed crash.
See also
- Alpine skiing combinedAlpine skiing combinedCombined is an alpine skiing event. Although not technically a discipline of its own, it is sometimes referred to as a fifth alpine discipline, along with downhill, super G, giant slalom, and slalom.-Traditional & Super-Combined:...
- Giant Slalom
- List of men's World Cup Downhill title winnersAlpine Skiing World Cup MenThis is a complete list of men's alpine skiing World Cup champions in the overall and each discipline. Multiple World Cups in the overall and in each discipline are marked with ....
- List of women's World Cup Downhill title winnersAlpine Skiing World Cup WomenA complete list of women's alpine skiing World Cup champions in the overall and each discipline. Multiple World Cups in the overall and in each discipline are marked with ....
- List of Olympic medalists in men's Downhill
- List of Olympic medalists in women's Downhill
- List of Paralympic medalists in men's Downhill
- List of Paralympic medalists in women's Downhill
- List of World Champions in Downhill
- Skiing and skiing topicsSkiingSkiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
- SlalomSlalom skiingSlalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
- Super Giant Slalom (Super G)Super Giant Slalom skiingThe Super Giant Slalom is an Alpine skiing discipline. It is usually referred to as Super G and is a "speed" event, along with the faster Downhill event; the Giant Slalom and Slalom events are known as the "technical" disciplines.-History:...
- U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association - National governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding in the United States
External links
- Sports Illustrated - The Downhill: Majesty and Madness, February 11, 1980
- YouTube video - The Thin Line: Life on the Edge - trailer - Downhill racing - 2007