Alpine Skiing World Championships

February 4 to 16, Saalbach (Austria)

What are the events at the Alpine Skiing World Championships?

The five events on the program for men and women are downhill, giant slalom, slalom, super-G and super-combined, plus the Nation's Team event, a mixed team event. Results count toward the World Cup overall standings.

History of the World Championships

The first World Championships date back to 1931 and were held in the Swiss resort of Mürren. At the time, the Olympic Games did not include an alpine skiing event (that had to wait until 1936), so the World Championships were the major event of international alpine skiing. Until the Second World War, the World Championships were held every year. After the Second World War and until 1985, they were held every two years, in even years. From 1948 to 1980, the Olympic Games also served as the World Championships, and the Olympic champion was also considered world champion. Since 1985, the World Championships have been held in odd years. The giant slalom was contested for the first time in 1950.

See also