In one form or another, skiing has been a permanent feature on the Olympic Winter Games programme since 1924. The six current FIS disciplines are Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, freestyle skiing and snowboard. The first four have a rich history, whilst the latter two are relative newcomers that are growing in popularity. To compete in these various disciplines, one needs to master speed, endurance, dexterity and determination.

Downhill and super-G

The Alpine skiing competition consists of 10 events: five each for women and men. The downhill features the longest course and the highest speeds in Alpine skiing. Super-G stands for super giant slalom, an event that combines the speed of downhill with the shorter and more technical turns of giant slalom. In these events, each skier makes one run down a course, and the fastest time determines the winner.

Slalom and team combined

The slalom is the Alpine event with the shortest course and the most turns. The giant slalom has fewer and wider, smoother turns. In both events, each skier makes two runs down two different courses on the same slope. The times are added together, and the fastest total time determines the winner. The team combined event consists of a downhill run and a single slalom run. The teams are formed of two athletes of the same gender and from the same National Olympic Committee. One athlete from each team will compete in the downhill with the other competing in the slalom, and the result is calculated based on the aggregate times of the two athletes in each team.

The cross-country skiing competition consists of 12 events: six each for women and men. Athletes compete in the sprint, team sprint, 10km individual start, 10km + 10km skiathlon, 50km mass start and 4x7.5km relay. In cross-country skiing, there are two techniques, classic and free, which alternate between each edition of the Games.

Ski jumping has five events: the individual normal hill for women and men; the individual large hill and the team event on the large hill, both for men; and the mixed team event featuring teams of women and men. In the individual events, each athlete gets two jumps, and the athlete with the highest combined score is the winner. In the team event, each team has four members, and the field is reduced to the eight best teams after the first jump.

Nordic combined is currently contested only by men, and there are three events, each consisting of a ski jumping competition and a cross-country skiing race. For the normal hill Gundersen event, ski jumping takes place on the normal hill (90m). For the team sprint and the large hill Gundersen events, ski jumping takes place on the large hill (120m). The cross-country skiing portion of the Gundersen events has a 10km race, and the team event has a 2x7.5km relay.

There are 11 snowboard events: men’s and women’s halfpipe; men’s and women’s parallel giant slalom; men’s, women’s and mixed team snowboard cross; men’s and women’s slopestyle; and men’s and women’s big air.

There are 15 freestyle skiing events: men’s, women’s and mixed team aerials; men’s and women’s moguls; men’s and women’s dual moguls; men’s and women’s halfpipe; men’s and women’s slopestyle; men’s and women’s big air; and men’s and women’s ski cross.