9781422280812

Norwegian skier Kjetil Jansrud attacks a control gate during the FIS alpine skiing World Cup slalom race in Val D’Isere, France. The slalom is a technical event requiring excellent turning technique rather than pure speed.

In giant slalom, there is a vertical drop anywhere from 250 to 450 meters (273 to 492 yards) with 46 to 58 gates for women and 56 to 70 for men. Speeds are up to 50 mph (80 km/h). In the slalom event, the number of gates is the same, but the course is shorter, with gates just 9 meters (30 feet) apart on a course only 2 meters (6.5 feet) wide. The gates come so quickly that skiers must swivel their hips constantly to stay in rhythm and on course. Slalom skiers wear special equipment to protect them from the impact with the gates, which are flexible, plastic flagpoles that bend on impact but can whip back at the skier. Even at the average speed of 25 mph (30 km/h), the whipping action of the gates can cause injury. All ski racers wear helmets, but slalom skiers have helmets with metal faceguards. They also wear shin pads and have hand protectors attached to the tops of their ski poles. Sidebar

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