[Photo: Rex Keep, Beaver Creek] A competitor celebrates his run at Beaver Creek.

There are four alpine disciplines: slalom (or special slalom), giant slalom, super-giant slalom and downhill, all designed to test different types of skiing. The combined event is decided by one slalom and one downhill run.

Competitors are timed on a set course, which they are allowed to inspect before their run, but not to ski. Starting last is normally a disadvantage, as courses become heavily rutted. In international competition, skiers are divided into seed groups, with the best ranked skiers skiing first; within the seed groups, start positions are decided randomly.