Ski slalom gates question

Factual Questions
1

I find it very confusing trying to make sense of the gates in slalom skiing. Most of the time, it appears that the skier is passing single gate poles alternately; on the left, then on the right, then on the left, etc. Every now and then there are two gate poles close together, but they seem to be treated as a single pole. Then every so often there is a pole visible, a little off the skiers path, that seems to be totally ignored as if it had no function.

I imagine the angle of view on TV contributes to making it hard to decipher what’s going on, but I’m stumped. Can someone explain to me the system with the gate poles, and why it appears as described above?

2

The official rule on passing through the gates (for all events, not just the slalom) is that the skier must break the plane between the two gates of the same color with both ski tips and both boots. - represents the plane of the gate.



B---------B

or

B
   \
     \
       B

For example, with R=red gates and B=blue gates, the skiers path would be like this:



B    \     B
       \
         \
      R   \        R
          /
         /
B      /  B

In the slalom, there are also combination gates. In these gates, the plane of the gate is vertical. Each slalom course must have at least three combination gates- 2 hairpins (single combinations) and 1 flush (a double combination). These combination gates are used to change up the rhythm of the course or to move the course across the hill, typically.



Hairpin
     
     R

     R
     B

             B





Flush

     R

     R
     B

     B
     R

             R

On some courses, you’ll also see through gates, these are gates that are set so that you don’t make another turn. A skier still must break the plane of the gate. These are often used to connect different pitches and are less common in the slalom (but not unheard of). These are necessary because there are strict rules on the distance between gates and the number of gates required for each course.



Through Gate

R     \    R
          \
             \
       B        \     B
                    \                
                        \
                   R    /       R
                       /
                      /
               B    /         B

If a skier fails to break the plane of a gate, they may hike back up, break the plane and continue. This is rare in the Olympics or World Cup, mainly because only the top 30 in a race gain World Cup points.

If a skier does not break the plane and continues on they are disqualified. This is what happened to Bode Miller in the combined slalom, and is a fairly common situation. One exception to this rule is that a skier who loses a ski in the last 2 gates of a slalom or before the last gate of any other race may finish with only one ski.

3

That was a very helpful answer. Those diagrams illustrated and clarified what I’ve seen on TV but wasn’t able to sort out. Thank you.

4

Glad I could help!

5

In the Hairpin and Flush examples, from which side is the skier entering the first gate?

6

Hairpin : From left, through red, turn down the hill and go through blue.

Flush : From right through red, shrp, nearly straight-down-the-hill turn through blue, then wider (possiblility) turn through the second red flags.

Note: I do not ski slalom nor are these my diagrams, but that’s the only path that makes sense to me!

7

nerd- The skier would be entering from his right, like so:



Hairpin
     
    |R 
     \
     R \
     B  /
       /
      /      B

It would be the same for the flush.