Alpine Skiing at Milan-Cortina 2026
More than 300 athletes from over 70 nations will compete across 10 alpine skiing events at the 2026 Winter Games. Competition venues include the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio hosting men’s events and the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo for women’s competitions from February 7-18.
Event Categories
The program features two speed disciplines (downhill and super-G) and two technical events (slalom and giant slalom), plus a mixed team combined event.
Downhill: The Ultimate Speed Test
First contested at the 1936 Winter Games, downhill remains alpine skiing’s most dangerous discipline. Competitors regularly reach speeds exceeding 140 km/h (approximately 87 mph) while navigating steep, icy courses with vertical drops ranging from 500-1,100 meters depending on gender. Safety protocols allow three training runs and daily course inspections before the single-race competition.
Super-G: Hybrid Challenge
Combining downhill speed with giant slalom’s technical turns, super-G debuted at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Racers face widely spaced gates on courses with 400-650 meter vertical drops. Unlike downhill, athletes receive only a one-hour visual inspection before their single-run race.
Slalom: Technical Precision
This tight-turn discipline challenges skiers with the closest gate spacing in alpine skiing. Competitors complete two runs on the same slope, navigating 40-75 alternating red and blue gates. A significant portion of competitors fail to complete the course due to missed gates or straddled poles.
Giant Slalom: Balanced Demands
Since its 1952 Olympic debut, giant slalom has maintained intermediate gate spacing between slalom and super-G. Racers complete two runs with vertical drops of 300-450 meters. Second-run start orders reverse the top 30 finishers from the initial run.
Team Combined Event
This mixed-gender competition blends downhill speed with slalom technique. Two athletes from each nation compete in separate disciplines, with gold determined by combined times. Both runs occur on the same day following downhill course familiarization.
