Benjamin Alexander Nurturing Young Jamaicans Alpine Skiers Jamaican skier Benjamin Alexander has revealed that...
Giant Slalom
Giant slalom is a ski and snowboard sport from the alpine skiing discipline that is similar to slalom in that athletes have to navigate through a fixed set of gates. The difference between slalom and giant slalom is that the gates used in giant slalom are further apart than in slalom.
The course used for giant slalom competitions must have a vertical drop of between 250 and 450 m for men and between 250 and 400 m for women. A total of 56 to 70 gates are used for men’s events and 46 to 58 for women’s. The minimum length of the skis used for the giant slalom has to be 185 cm for men and 180 cm for women. A maximum stand height of 55mm also applies.
Giant slalom, similar to slalom, is a technical event in which athletes are judged based on the technical aspects of turns rather than speed. In competitions, each rider is allowed two runs around the course and is awarded points. The rider with the most points accumulated in the two races combined is declared the winner.
Giant slalom is a very popular winter sport and has been a part of the Winter Olympics since 1952 and the World Championships since 1950.
