Definition of a ski combination
Combined alpine skiing is a discipline that was created in 1932 in Italy during the World Ski Championships. Also known as alpine combined, it consists of 2 runs:
- a downhill speed event;
- a technical test in the form of a slalom.
This alpine skiing event showcases the versatility of competitors, combining speed and technique in two very different events. The downhill is scheduled on one date and the slalom is scheduled 1 or 2 days later. A ranking is established after the first round of the downhill, and only the top 30 finishers go on to the second round of the slalom.
What are the rules?
The two runs, slalom and downhill, are separated. Skiers start with the speed event. The aim is to go as fast as possible! And, as mentioned above, only the top 30 finishers qualify for the slalom. Competitors start in reverse order, i.e. 30th first, and so on. They retain their downhill time and therefore their lead. For example, the 29th competitor will start with the accumulated downhill lead over the 30th.
At the end of the combined alpine skiing event, the skier with the fastest time in both disciplines wins. Slalom specialists are generally more successful, since technique plays such an important role.
The difference between alpine combined and super combined
But what's the difference between Alpine combined and super combined? In reality, they are the same discipline, since Alpine Combined evolved into Super Combined in 2005. So, in absolute terms, it's the same thing, but the rules have changed:
- the super combined includes a Super-G event instead of the downhill;
- The slalom event is run on the same day as the downhill;
- During the slalom run, the skier with the fastest time in the Super-G event goes first.
The winner is the competitor with the best cumulative time in the 2 events. This evolution in the practice of combined alpine skiing saves time on the calendar and guarantees the program of events.
Is combined alpine skiing on the way out?
Alpine combined skiing once disappeared from the sporting calendar, only to be reintroduced at the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary. But it's a discipline on borrowed time, with fewer and fewer competitions held each year. Skiers often specialize in speed or technique, and super combined is sometimes seen as a second-rate discipline. For example, during the 2014-2015 season, only two super combined events were organized at ski resorts for men, and only one for women.
As a result, Alpine Combined is gradually being dropped from the World Championship and Olympic Winter Games programs. The hyperspecialization of skiers (downhillers or slalom racers) works against the event, since alpine combined requires a very complete skier. However, the discipline is still a fixture at the Olympic Games!
