Alpine skiing

Alpine skiing evolved from cross-country skiing when ski lift infrastructure was developed at mountain resorts to tow skiiers back to the top of slopes, thus making it possible to repeatedly enjoy skiing down steep, long slopes that would be otherwise too tiring to climb up. Thus, the sport is popular wherever the combination of snow, mountain slopes, and a sufficient tourist infrastructure can be built up, including much of Europe, North America, and Japan.

The main technical challenges faced by skiiers are simply how to control the direction and speed of their descent. Typically, novice skiiers use a technique called the "snowplough[?]" to turn and stop by pointing one or both skis inward, but more advanced skiiers use more difficult but more elegant and speedier methods. As skiiers gain confidence, they tackle steeper, longer and more uneven slopes at higher speeds.

Various alpine skiing competitions have developed, and elite competitive skiiers participate in the annual World Cup series, as well as the Winter Olympic Games.

Alpine skiing competition events include:

• Slalom
• Giant Slalom[?]
• Downhill
• Speed Skiing[?]
• Moguls
• Freestyle

Professional alpine skiers compete on the World Cup circuit in Slalom, Giant Slalom[?], and Downhill races held at various sites in Europe, the United States, and Canada. Points are awarded in according to where the participant finishes in each individual race. At the end of the season, the personal accumulating the most points from all three race venues is the overall champion.

Overall Winners - Women:

• 1967 - Nancy Greene[?], Canada
• 1968 - Nancy Greene[?], Canada
• 1969 - Gertrud Gabi[?], Austria
• 1970 - Michele Jacot[?], France
• 1971 - Annemarie Pröll[?], Austria
• 1972 - Annemarie Pröll[?], Austria
• 1973 - Annemarie Pröll[?], Austria
• 1974 - Annemarie Pröll[?], Austria
• 1975 - Annemarie Pröll[?], Austria
• 1976 - Rosi Mittermaier[?], Germany
• 1977 - Lise-Marie Morerod[?], Switzerland
• 1978 - Hanni Wenzel, Liechtenstein
• 1979 - Annemarie Moser-Pröll[?], Austria
• 1980 - Hanni Wenzel, Liechtenstein
• 1981 - Marie-Therese Nadig[?], Switzerland
• 1982 - Erika Hess[?], Switzerland
• 1983 - Tamara McKinney[?], USA
• 1984 - Erika Hess[?], Switzerland
• 1985 - Michela Figini[?], Switzerland
• 1986 - Maria Walliser[?], Switzerland
• 1987 - Maria Walliser[?], Switzerland
• 1988 - Michela Figini[?], Switzerland
• 1989 - Vreni Schneider[?], Switzerland
• 1990 - Petra Kronberger[?], Austria
• 1991 - Petra Kronberger[?], Austria
• 1992 - Petra Kronberger[?], Austria
• 1993 - Anita Wachter[?], Austria
• 1994 - Vreni Schneider[?], Switzerland
• 1995 - Vreni Schneider[?], Switzerland
• 1996 - Katja Seizinger[?], Germany
• 1997 - Pernilla Wiberg, Sweden
• 1998 - Katja Seizinger[?], Germany
• 1999 - Alexandra Meissnitzer[?], Austria
• 2000 - Renate Goetschl[?], Austria
• 2001 - Janica Kostelic[?], Croatia
• 2002 - Michaela Dorfmeister[?], Austria

Overall Winners - Men:

• 1967 - Jean-Claude Killy, France
• 1968 - Jean-Claude Killy, France
• 1969 - Karl Schranz[?], Austria
• 1970 - Karl Schranz[?], Austria
• 1971 - Gustavo Thoeni[?], Italy
• 1972 - Gustavo Thoeni[?], Italy
• 1973 - Gustavo Thoeni[?], Italy
• 1974 - Piero Gros[?], Italy
• 1975 - Gustavo Thoeni[?], Italy
• 1976 - Ingemar Stenmark[?], Sweden
• 1977 - Ingemar Stenmark[?], Sweden
• 1978 - Ingemar Stenmark[?], Sweden
• 1979 - Peter Luescher[?], Switzerland
• 1980 - Andreas Wenzel[?], Liechtenstein
• 1981 - Phil Mahre[?], USA
• 1982 - Phil Mahre[?], USA
• 1983 - Phil Mahre[?], USA
• 1984 - Pirmin Zurbriggen[?], Switzerland
• 1985 - Marc Girardelli[?], Luxembourg
• 1986 - Marc Girardelli[?], Luxembourg
• 1987 - Pirmin Zurbriggen[?], Switzerland
• 1988 - Pirmin Zurbriggen[?], Switzerland
• 1989 - Marc Girardelli[?], Luxembourg
• 1990 - Pirmin Zurbriggen[?], Switzerland
• 1991 - Marc Girardelli[?], Luxembourg
• 1992 - Paul Accola[?], Switzerland
• 1993 - Marc Girardelli[?], Luxembourg
• 1994 - Kjetil Andre Aamodt[?], Norway
• 1995 - Alberto Tomba[?], Italy
• 1996 - Lasse Kjus[?], Norway
• 1997 - Luc Alphand[?], France
• 1998 - Hermann Maier[?], Austria
• 1999 - Lasse Kjus[?], Norway
• 2000 - Hermann Maier[?], Austria
• 2001 - Hermann Maier[?], Austria
• 2002 - Stephan Eberharter[?], Austria

See also:

• Alpine Skiing World Cup
• Ski
• History of skiing
• Telemark skiing