Slalom and Giant Slalom Technique: Line, Rhythm, Gate Clearing and Pressure

The rules first

We explain the race rules, gate types and ski specifications of both disciplines in our guide Alpine Ski Racing Disciplines. In short: in slalom the direction changes amount to about 30–35% of the vertical drop, in giant slalom about 11–15%; slalom gates are single hinged poles, while giant slalom gates consist of two poles and a panel.

Where does speed come from?

According to the systematic review by Hébert-Losier and colleagues, which looked at 12 studies on elite racers, performance improves when the skis are steered in a way that reduces friction with the snow. The factors that achieve this:

• Starting the turn earlier,
• Following a longer path and trajectory,
• Applying the ground reaction force earlier and more smoothly,
• Carving rather than skidding.

The review has its limitations too: fewer than 4% of the subjects studied were women, and most studies measured only 2–4 gates.

The shortest line is not always the fastest

• In a giant slalom study by Spörri and colleagues, the time for a section was determined less by the length of the path travelled by the centre of mass than by the energy lost or gained relative to entry speed.
• A study by Delhaye and colleagues with 17 skiers compared a long straight line between two turns (Z) with rounded turns (S): the good skiers lost less energy using different strategies. In other words, there is no single “correct line”.
• A case study of a top world-class athlete also found that line and timing were decisive on short sections.

Start the turn before the gate

The common rule among coaches is that the turn should start before the gate and finish around the gate. By the time you reach the gate, your skis are already on their new edges, and as you pass the gate all you do is complete the turn. A turn started late means a hard skid and braking below the gate. This fits the review's finding of “an earlier turn initiation”.

According to measurements by Supej and Holmberg in World Cup slalom, the highest forces and the greatest energy loss occur in the steering phase of the turn, that is, around the gate. When a delay gate lengthened the turn radius, the energy loss at the start of the turn decreased.

Slalom technique

Short, rhythmic turns. In measurements by Reid and colleagues, with a gate distance of 10 metres the maximum edge angle was about 66° and the minimum turn radius about 4 metres; with a 13-metre distance, the edge angle was about 71° and the radius about 5 metres. We explain the basics of the short turn in our guide Short, Medium and Long Turn Techniques in Skiing.

Clearing the gate (cross-block). Hinged poles allow the racer to take a line close to the pole and push it aside with the outside arm and shin. According to the coaching drill cards of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the US ski and snowboard federation:

• The blocking arm does not cross the body's centre line; if it does, the shoulders and hips rotate.
• The blocking arm is firm but does not punch the gate.
• The inside arm stays forward and up throughout the turn.
• The eyes look past the pole, to the next gate.
• The shin and the hand clear the pole at the same time.

In one drill on the same cards, the poles are set at an angle of 30–60° to the snow; angled gates prevent over-reaching.

Giant slalom technique

Longer turns, greater forces. In giant slalom the gates are further apart and the turns are a mix of long, medium and short sizes. The racer tries to conserve energy in every turn: starting the turn early, loading the edge gradually and avoiding hard skidding in the steering phase.

The role of ski design. Under FIS rules, giant slalom skis have a radius of at least 30 metres. In the 2015 experiment by Spörri and colleagues, skis with a larger radius produced a larger turn radius and a lower ground reaction force; in other words, the equipment also affects how the turn is skied.

On the flats. According to findings from the speed disciplines, reducing your frontal area and keeping your arms close to your body reduces air resistance. We did not find a separate study on the flat sections in giant slalom, but by the same logic, a compact position on the flats reduces speed loss.

What does this mean for the recreational skier?

Even if you never race, these principles are useful on the slopes:

1. Start the turn early: Make the edge change at the start of the turn; enter the fall line on your new edges. We explain the details in our guide Edge Change and Pressure Management in Skiing.
2. Skid less: Turns that leave two thin lines in the snow use less energy; see our guide Carving Technique in Skiing: Clean Edge Tracks and Controlled Turns.
3. Look to the next turn: Keep your eyes on the next turning point.
4. Keep your upper body quiet: Do not let arm and shoulder movements spoil the turn; see our guide Dynamic Parallel Turns and Upper–Lower Body Coordination in Skiing.

From the gates to enjoying the slopes

Cleaning up your turns with principles borrowed from race technique adds an exciting goal to an activity holiday. Doğadayız winter packages include accommodation, ski pass and equipment; lessons with an instructor belong to the basic course packages. Comparing with your friends at the end of the day who left the cleanest track in the snow can be one of the most fun races of a social adventure holiday. For programmes, see our winter activity holidays page.