Italy 14 – 15 February 2026
Source: Olympic Winter Games™ · Feb 6-22, 2026 | Paralympic Winter Games™ · Mar 6-15, 2026
Source: https://www.fis-ski.com/ | https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/schedule
Skiing Olympic Winter Games
Alpine Skiing Men’s Giant Slalom Bormio
Men’s Giant Slalom on 14 Feb Run 1 starts at 10:00 (CET) / Run 2 starts at 13:30 (CET)
Alpine Skiing Women’s Giant Slalom Cortina d’Ampezzo
Women’s Giant Slalom on 15 Feb Run 1 starts at 10:00 (CET) / Run 2 starts at 13:30 (CET)
Giant Slalom (GS) is often described as the “purest” discipline in alpine skiing. It sits right in the sweet spot between the rapid-fire agility of Slalom and the terrifying speeds of Downhill.
Think of it as the high-speed dance of the ski world: it requires technical precision, but at speeds that can reach up to 80 km/h (50 mph).
The Fundamentals
In Giant Slalom, skiers must navigate between sets of gates (composed of two poles with a banner between them) down a mountain slope. Here is how it breaks down:
- The Gates: The gates are spaced further apart than in Slalom, but closer together than in Super-G. This creates longer, sweeping turns.
- The Format: A standard GS competition consists of two runs held on the same day on two different courses.
- The Timing: The times from both runs are added together. The skier with the lowest combined time wins. If you miss a gate or fall, you’re usually disqualified.
- The Gear: GS skis are longer and have a larger turn radius than Slalom skis to handle the higher speeds and wider arcs.
Key Differences from Other Disciplines
To give you a better sense of where GS fits, here is a quick comparison:
| Discipline | Speed | Turn Tightness | Gate Style |
| Slalom | Slowest | Tight & Rapid | Single Poles |
| Giant Slalom | Moderate/Fast | Wide & Sweeping | Double Poles (Panels) |
| Super-G | Fast | Very Wide | Panels |
| Downhill | Fastest | Minimal | Panels (mostly for direction) |
Why it’s “Giant”
The “Giant” refers to the increased distance between the gates compared to traditional Slalom. Because the turns are longer, skiers have to hold their “edge” (the metal side of the ski) into the ice for a longer duration, which puts an incredible amount of physical strain on the legs.
Pro Tip: In GS, “rhythm” is everything. If a skier loses their line on one turn, it creates a domino effect that slows them down for the next five gates.
