Alpine Ski World Cup: events and classics

• The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) organises the Alpine Ski World Cup.
• The first World Cup season began in 1967.
• Downhill and super-G are speed events; slalom and giant slalom emphasise precise turns.
• World Cup races take place at venues in different countries throughout the season.
• There is an overall ranking as well as rankings for individual disciplines.
• Since the 1992/93 season, the top 30 finishers in each race have earned World Cup points.

The Alpine Ski World Cup turns individual races into a season-long competition. Athletes travel to venues in different countries, collect points and compete both in their disciplines and for the overall title. This makes it possible to follow a season from two perspectives: who leads, for example, in slalom or downhill, and who delivers the most consistent results across several disciplines?

Downhill is the fastest Alpine discipline. Long courses, jumps and changing terrain require a precise line at high speed. Super-G is also a speed event, with more widely spaced gates, but includes more turns than downhill. Both speed disciplines are usually decided in a single run.

Giant slalom and slalom are raced on shorter courses with more closely set gates. Giant slalom has broader turns and greater distances between gates, while slalom demands rapid changes of direction. Both disciplines usually have two runs, whose times are added together. After completing the first run, competitors must stay focused in the second while responding to their time so far. The differences explain why World Cup skiers often specialise in particular disciplines.

Under the current basic system, the top 30 in each race score points, from 100 for the winner to one for 30th place. Each discipline has its own ranking, while the overall standings add points from all disciplines. A victory matters, but consistent finishes are rewarded too. At the end of the season, the leading athletes receive Crystal Globes.

The first men's World Cup slalom took place in Berchtesgaden on 5 January 1967; Austria's Heinrich Messner won. A giant slalom followed there the next day. The series' first downhill was held on the Lauberhorn in Wengen. The idea for the race circuit had been discussed in Kitzbühel in 1966. Kitzbühel later became a classic venue in its own right: the Hahnenkamm Races feature the Streif, one of the best-known downhill courses.

The World Cup and World Championships are different competitions. The World Cup comprises a series of races over a season; the Alpine World Ski Championships award medals in a concentrated title event. World Cups, classics and championships are among the major events in skiing. For visitors, races can also offer a special perspective on winter resorts and their famous slopes, while the competition calendar selects its own venues and courses.