Slalom (SL)

A term that is used to describe an alpine skiing discipline that involves descending a hill by running through a series of gates (markers or poles) set in a zigzag or wavy course the snow. A course has 55 to 75 gates for men and 40 to 60 gates for women. They are spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing shorter and quicker turns.

Slalom is one of the 'technical events' (along with giant slalom) in alpine ski racing. This separates them from the speed events such as downhill and super G.