Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. This section needs additional citations for verification. Gates have an 8-metre (26 ft) or larger opening.

Gates – Gates consist of pairs of twin poles with a rectangular panel between the poles.

Course length – Courses require an accurate means of measurement for length.Vertical drop – Vertical drop ranges from 450 to 1,100 metres (1,480 to 3,610 ft) for men and 450 to 800 metres (1,480 to 2,620 ft) for women.Safety – Obstacles on courses are expected to be protected with nets, fences, or pads.

Width – Courses are typically 30 metres (100 ft) wide with allowances for the approaches to 'lips, drop-offs and jumps'.General characteristics – As a test of 'technique, courage, speed, risk, physical condition and judgement', the course requires the athlete to adapt to the technically demanding terrain and layout of gates.The FIS has rules for downhill courses that encompass their general characteristics, width, safety precautions, vertical drop, course length, style and placement of gates. A speed of 100 miles per hour (161 km/h) was first achieved by Johan Clarey at the 2013 Lauberhorn World Cup, beating the previous record of 98 mph (158 km/h), set by Italian Stefan Thanei in 2005. The rules for downhill skiing competitions were originally developed by Sir Arnold Lunn for the 1925 British National Ski Championships. The term, 'downhill skiing', is also used as a synonym for alpine skiing as a recreational activity. Athletes must have an aerodynamically efficient tuck position to minimize drag and increase speed. Speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph) are common in international competition. Whereas the other alpine skiing events ( slalom, giant slalom, super giant slalom, and combined) emphasize turning and technique, downhill emphasizes 'the six components of technique, courage, speed, risk, physical condition and judgement', according to the FIS 'International Ski Competition Rules (ICR)'.

Slovenia's Andrej Šporn at the 2010 Winter Olympics downhill in a typical downhill body positionĭownhill is a form of alpine skiing competition.

Download downhill ski racer