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The Olympics has five different alpine (downhill) skiing events:
What are the differences between these different events? I know that the number and spacing of the gates are different. Is that all it is, or is there more to it than that?
There some more differences:
Slalom and giant slalow are technical events, super-G and downhill are speed events. Super combined, as the name implies, combines runs of slalom and downhill.
Downhill and super-G events have one run, slalom and giant slalom events have two runs - different courses on the same ski run.
Even the skis are different. Slalom skis are shorter and narrower, the better to manoeuvre quickly through gates which are close together without catching a tip on a gate. Giant slalom skis are longer and wider, but still not as long and wide as downhill skis.
Slalom skiers need more protection - helmets, face guards, hand guards, and shin pads are compulsory. The extra equipment lets slalom skiers physically knock the poles out of the way as they pass, a special technique known as blocking.
The main differences are about number of gates, distance from each gate, vertical drop and length of the course.
Downhill Has the maximun of the lenght and the maximun distance from each gate. It runs on a single manche. It has the maximun speed.
Super Giant Slalom (Super-G) It runs on a single manche.
Giant Slalom The vertical drop for a GS course must be 250–450 metres (men), 250–400 m (women). The number of gates is 56–70 (men) and 46–58 (women). It runs on two manches, times of both runs is added up.
Slalom Has the minimum of the length and the minimum distance from each gate. The course has 55-75 gates (men) and 40-60 (women). The vertical drop is 180-220 m (men) and slightly less for women. It runs on two manches, times of both runs are added up. It has the minimum value of speed.
Super Combined It is a "small" downhill + a manche of slalom
