Winter Olympics 2010 Guide: Alpine

Skiing & Ski jumping / Editor / 09 February 2010 / Leave a comment

Lindsay Vonn in action in Switzerland in January

First one to the bottom wins, right? And, last one to the bottom buys the drinks? Yes and maybe, but there's much more to Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics than that. Here's our guide to who and what to look out for at Vancouver 2010.

"Ahead of every Olympics, there's always one athlete feted for a multitude of medals. This time it's Lindsay Vonn. She could be on the rostrum in four of the five alpine events."

What is it?
If the summer Olympics lives or dies by the quality of the men's 100m final then the winter games has the same dependency on the men's downhill. Fastest to the bottom wins, of course. However, there are four other disciplines under the term 'alpine'. The Slalom is the shortest course with gates and has the tightest turns. The Giant Slalom is similar but with fewer and wider turns. All three consist of two runs. The Super-G is a one-run event that combines the speed of the downhill with the turns of the Giant Slalom. The Super Combined is the all-rounders' competition - one downhill, one slalom.

History
While a flying Franz Klammer in skin-tight yellow lycra in 1976 maybe the image of the Winter Olympics, the downhill did not enter the Games until 1948. In 1936 the event consisted of only the men's and women's combined. Klammer's gold is one of 101 Austrian medals in Alpine events, around double that of second-place Switzerland.

Who to watch
Lindsay Vonn. Ahead of every Olympics, there is always one athlete feted for a multitude of medals. This time it's the American Vonn. She could be on the rostrum in four of the five alpine events. Only Giant Slalom is truly beyond her powers. The downhill seems a shoo-in. Maria Riesch of Germany is her greatest threat. In the men's downhill, Eric Guay is the most consistent performer and has home backing but Austria's Michael Walchofer will push him.

Fact
Liechtenstein have won nine medals, Luxembourg two silvers, Australia have one bronze. Great Britain? Null points.

Best bet

Vonn, Vonn and Vonn for the women's downhill. No matter how short she is in the odds. Guay on the men's side.

Tags: Alpine Skiing, Lindsay Vonn, Richard Douglas, Vancouver 2010, Winter Olympics 2010