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

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

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).

Equipment

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

In an attempt to increase safety for the 2003–2004 season, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) increased its 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 2007–2008 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 2012–2013 season, the FIS increased the sidecut radius to 35 m (115 ft) and the minimum length to 195 cm (76.8 in). Many athletes criticized this decision. Often David Dodge was cited. Dodge argues that FIS used studies that 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]

According to the FIS Specification for Alpine Competition Equipment for the 2024–2025 season, the specifications for FIS World Cup GS skis are as follows: The minimum sidecut radius is 30 m (98 ft) for both men and women, and the minimum ski lengths are 188 cm (74 in) for women and 193 cm (75.9 in) for men.[7]

History

The first giant slalom was set in 1935 on the Mottarone in Italy, over Lake Maggiore, near Stresa, on January 20.[8] After one month, the second giant slalom was set on the Marmolada in Italy's Dolomite mountains, by Guenther Langes.[9]

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; the latter 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.

The greatest giant slalom specialist of all time was Ingemar Stenmark, with 46 World Cup victories (between 1975 and 1989).

Men's World Cup podiums

In the following table men's giant slalom World Cup podiums from the World Cup first edition in 1967.[10][11]

Season 1st 2nd 3rd
1967 Jean-Claude Killy Georges Mauduit Jimmie Heuga
1968 Jean-Claude Killy Edmund Bruggmann Herbert Huber
1968-69 Karl Schranz Reinhard Tritscher Jean-Noël Augert
1969-70 Gustav Thöni Patrick Russel
Dumeng Giovanoli
1970-71 Gustav Thöni
Patrick Russel		 Edmund Bruggmann
1971-72 Gustav Thöni Edmund Bruggmann Roger Rossat-Mignod
1972-73 Hansi Hinterseer Erik Håker Adolf Rösti
1973-74 Piero Gros Hansi Hinterseer Gustav Thöni
1974-75 Ingemar Stenmark Piero Gros Erik Håker
1975-76 Ingemar Stenmark Gustav Thöni Piero Gros
1976-77 Ingemar Stenmark
Heini Hemmi		 Klaus Heidegger
1977-78 Ingemar Stenmark Andreas Wenzel Phil Mahre
1978-79 Ingemar Stenmark Peter Lüscher Bojan Križaj
1979-80 Ingemar Stenmark Hans Enn Jacques Lüthy
1980-81 Ingemar Stenmark Alexander Zhirov Phil Mahre
1981-82 Phil Mahre Ingemar Stenmark Marc Girardelli
1982-83 Phil Mahre Ingemar Stenmark
Max Julen
1983-84 Ingemar Stenmark
Pirmin Zurbriggen		 Hans Enn
1984-85 Marc Girardelli Pirmin Zurbriggen Thomas Bürgler
1985-86 Joël Gaspoz Ingemar Stenmark Hubert Strolz
1986-87 Pirmin Zurbriggen
Joël Gaspoz		 Richard Pramotton
1987-88 Alberto Tomba Hubert Strolz Helmut Mayer
1988-89 Ole Kristian Furuseth
Pirmin Zurbriggen		 Rudolf Nierlich
1989-90 Günther Mader
Ole Kristian Furuseth		 Hubert Strolz
1990-91 Alberto Tomba Rudolf Nierlich Marc Girardelli
1991-92 Alberto Tomba Hans Pieren Paul Accola
1992-93 Kjetil Aamodt Alberto Tomba Marc Girardelli
1993-94 Christian Mayer Kjetil Aamodt Franck Piccard
1994-95 Alberto Tomba Jure Košir Harald Strand Nilsen
1995-96 Michael von Grünigen Urs Kälin Lasse Kjus
1996-97 Michael von Grünigen Kjetil Aamodt Hans Knauß
1997-98 Hermann Maier Michael von Grünigen Christian Mayer
1998-99 Michael von Grünigen Stephan Eberharter Hermann Maier
1999-2000 Hermann Maier Christian Mayer Michael von Grünigen
2000-01 Hermann Maier Michael von Grünigen Erik Schlopy
2001-02 Frédéric Covili Benjamin Raich Stephan Eberharter
2002-03 Michael von Grünigen Bode Miller Hans Knauß
2003-04 Bode Miller Kalle Palander Massimiliano Blardone
2004-05 Benjamin Raich Bode Miller Thomas Grandi
2005-06 Benjamin Raich Massimiliano Blardone Fredrik Nyberg
2006-07 Aksel Lund Svindal Massimiliano Blardone Benjamin Raich
2007-08 Ted Ligety Benjamin Raich Manfred Mölgg
2008-09 Didier Cuche Benjamin Raich Ted Ligety
2009-10 Ted Ligety Carlo Janka Benjamin Raich
2010-11 Ted Ligety Aksel Lund Svindal Cyprien Richard
2011-12 Marcel Hirscher Ted Ligety Massimiliano Blardone
2012-13 Ted Ligety Marcel Hirscher Alexis Pinturault
2013-14 Ted Ligety Marcel Hirscher Alexis Pinturault
2014-15 Marcel Hirscher Alexis Pinturault Ted Ligety
2015-16 Marcel Hirscher Alexis Pinturault Henrik Kristoffersen
2016-17 Marcel Hirscher Mathieu Faivre Alexis Pinturault
2017-18 Marcel Hirscher Henrik Kristoffersen Alexis Pinturault
2018-19 Marcel Hirscher Henrik Kristoffersen Alexis Pinturault
2019-20 Henrik Kristoffersen Alexis Pinturault Filip Zubčić
2020-21 Alexis Pinturault Marco Odermatt Filip Zubčić
2021-22 Marco Odermatt Henrik Kristoffersen Manuel Feller
2022-23 Marco Odermatt Henrik Kristoffersen Žan Kranjec
2023-24 Marco Odermatt Loïc Meillard Filip Zubčić
2024-25 Marco Odermatt Henrik Kristoffersen Loïc Meillard

Men's most podiums in World Cup

Racers with the most World Cup podiums in giant slalom.[12]

# Skier Total Last
1 Ingemar Stenmark 72 19-02-1989
2 Marcel Hirscher 59 24-02-2019
3    Michael von Grünigen 46 15-03-2003
4 Ted Ligety 41 28-01-2018
5 Alexis Pinturault 41 12-03-2023
6 Marco Odermatt 38 12-01-2025
7 Benjamin Raich 35 01-03-2015
8 Henrik Kristoffersen 33 27-10-2024
9 Alberto Tomba 31 06-01-1998
10 Hermann Maier 28 23-10-2005
11 Phil Mahre 26 05-03-1984
12 Gustav Thöni 26 02-01-1977
13 Marc Girardelli 26 27-03-1993
14 Massimiliano Blardone 25 13-02-2016
15 Bode Miller 21 08-12-2013
  Still active
Totals through 02 March 2024

Women's World Cup podiums

In the following table women's giant slalom World Cup podiums from the World Cup first edition in 1967.[13]

Season 1st 2nd 3rd
1967 Nancy Greene Erika Schinegger Annie Famose
1968 Nancy Greene Fernande Bochatay Florence Steurer
1968-69 Marilyn Cochran Michèle Jacot Gertrud Gabl
1969-70 Michèle Jacot
Françoise Macchi		 Annemarie Moser-Pröll
1970-71 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Michèle Jacot Françoise Macchi
1971-72 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Monika Kaserer Britt Lafforgue
1972-73 Monika Kaserer Annemarie Moser-Pröll Hanni Wenzel
1973-74 Hanni Wenzel Fabienne Serrat Monika Kaserer
1974-75 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Fabienne Serrat Monika Kaserer
1975-76 Lise-Marie Morerod Monika Kaserer Rosi Mittermaier
1976-77 Lise-Marie Morerod Monika Kaserer Annemarie Moser-Pröll
1977-78 Lise-Marie Morerod Hanni Wenzel Maria Epple
1978-79 Christa Kinshofer Hanni Wenzel Irene Epple
1979-80 Hanni Wenzel Marie-Thérèse Nadig
Perrine Pelen
1980-81 Tamara McKinney Marie-Thérèse Nadig Irene Epple
Erika Hess
Hanni Wenzel
1981-82 Irene Epple Maria Epple Erika Hess
1982-83 Tamara McKinney Cindy Nelson Maria Epple
1983-84 Erika Hess Christin Cooper Tamara McKinney
1984-85 Michela Figini
Marina Kiehl		 Vreni Schneider
1985-86 Vreni Schneider Traudl Hächer Mateja Svet
1986-87 Vreni Schneider
Maria Walliser		 Blanca Fernández Ochoa
1987-88 Mateja Svet Catherine Quittet Vreni Schneider
1988-89 Vreni Schneider Mateja Svet Maria Walliser
1989-90 Anita Wachter Mateja Svet Petra Kronberger
1990-91 Vreni Schneider Anita Wachter Pernilla Wiberg
1991-92 Carole Merle Vreni Schneider Diann Roffe
1992-93 Carole Merle Anita Wachter Martina Ertl
1993-94 Anita Wachter Vreni Schneider Deborah Compagnoni
1994-95 Vreni Schneider Heidi Zeller-Bähler Špela Pretnar
1995-96 Martina Ertl Katja Seizinger Anita Wachter
1996-97 Deborah Compagnoni Katja Seizinger Anita Wachter
1997-98 Martina Ertl Deborah Compagnoni Alexandra Meissnitzer
1998-99 Alexandra Meissnitzer Anita Wachter Andrine Flemmen
1999-2000 Michaela Dorfmeister Sonja Nef Anita Wachter
2000-01 Sonja Nef Anja Pärson Michaela Dorfmeister
2001-02 Sonja Nef Michaela Dorfmeister Anja Pärson
2002-03 Anja Pärson Karen Putzer Janica Kostelić
2003-04 Anja Pärson Denise Karbon María José Rienda
2004-05 Tanja Poutiainen Anja Pärson María José Rienda
2005-06 Anja Pärson María José Rienda Janica Kostelić
2006-07 Nicole Hosp Tanja Poutiainen Michaela Kirchgasser
2007-08 Denise Karbon Elisabeth Görgl Manuela Mölgg
2008-09 Tanja Poutiainen Kathrin Zettel Tina Maze
2009-10 Kathrin Hölzl Kathrin Zettel Tina Maze
2010-11 Viktoria Rebensburg Tessa Worley Tanja Poutiainen
2011-12 Viktoria Rebensburg Lindsey Vonn Tessa Worley
2012-13 Tina Maze Anna Fenninger Viktoria Rebensburg
2013-14 Anna Fenninger Jessica Lindell-Vikarby Maria Pietilä Holmner
2014-15 Anna Fenninger Eva-Maria Brem Mikaela Shiffrin
2015-16 Eva-Maria Brem Viktoria Rebensburg Lara Gut-Behrami
2016-17 Tessa Worley Mikaela Shiffrin Sofia Goggia
2017-18 Viktoria Rebensburg Tessa Worley Mikaela Shiffrin
2018-19 Mikaela Shiffrin Petra Vlhová Tessa Worley
2019-20 Federica Brignone Petra Vlhová Mikaela Shiffrin
2020-21 Marta Bassino Mikaela Shiffrin Tessa Worley
2021-22 Tessa Worley Sara Hector Mikaela Shiffrin
2022-23 Mikaela Shiffrin Lara Gut-Behrami Marta Bassino
2023-24 Lara Gut-Behrami Federica Brignone Sara Hector
2024-25 Federica Brignone Alice Robinson Sara Hector

See also

References

  1. "The International Ski Competition Rules" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-25.
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  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. Specifications for Alpine Competition Equipment 2024/2025. Oberhofen: International Ski and Snowboard Federation. 2024.
  8. Francesco Vida. La storia dello sci in Italia.
  9. Allen, John (2010-01-31). "First Giant Slalom". Skiing Heritage. International Skiing History Assoc.
  10. "Winter Sports Chart - Alpine Skiing". wintersport-charts.info.
  11. "FIS Cup Standings - Alpine Skiing World Cup". FIS - International Ski and Snowboard Federation.
  12. "GIANT SLALOM - COMPETITORS HAVING MORE THAN ONE PODIUM". fis-ski.com.
  13. "FIS Cup Standings - Alpine Skiing World Cup". FIS - International Ski and Snowboard Federation.