Downhill Skiing Videos

Downhill skiing is sometimes also called "Alpine skiing", and it involves travelling down a snow-covered hill with fixed-heel bindings. Of all the different ski disciplines, downhill skiing is known for being the fastest. At competitions, speeds of up to 80 mph (150 km/h) are routinely reached. Because of this, it is also one of the most dangerous forms of skiing, so injuries are quite common. In contrast to other slower-speed alpine events, downhill skiers typically wear skis that are about 30% longer. This gives them more stability as they rip down the course.

Downhill ski courses are designed to challenge skiers in several ways. Skiers must control themselves while blasting at high speeds over ice, around sharp turns, through extreme steeps and flats, and soaring through the air over high jumps.

The current rules used in downhill events were developed for the British Ski Championships of 1921 by Sir Arnold Lunn. One notable difference about this event compared with others is that it utilizes only one timed run, rather than two.