Downhill is a form of alpine skiing 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)".. Speeds of up to are common in international competition. Athletes must have an aerodynamically efficient tuck position to minimize drag and increase speed.First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine (October 11, 2011). Canadian Ski Racers Train in Wind Tunnel.

The term, "downhill skiing", is also used as a synonym for alpine skiing as a recreational activity.

History The rules for downhill skiing competitions were originally developed by Sir Arnold Lunn for the 1925 British National Ski Championships. A speed of was first achieved by Johan Clarey at the 2013 Lauberhorn World Cup, beating the previous record of , set by Italian Stefan Thanei in 2005.

Course The FIS has rules for downhill courses that encompass their general characteristics, width, safety precautions, vertical drop, course length, style and placement of gates. 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. Width – Courses are typically wide with allowances for the approaches to "lips, drop-offs and jumps". Safety – Obstacles on courses are expected to be protected with nets, fences, or pads. Vertical drop – Vertical drop ranges from for men and for women. Races with two runs may be shorter. Course length – Courses require an accurate means of measurement for length. Gates – Gates consist of pairs of twin poles with a rectangular panel between the poles. Gates have an or larger opening.

Equipment

Equipment for the downhill is different from the alpine events that are lower-speed. Skis are 30% longer than those used in slalom, for more stability at high speed. They usually have rounded, low-profile tips rather than pointed tips. Ski poles are bent so as to curve around the body as the racer stays in a "tuck position" and may have aerodynamic, cone-shaped baskets. As in other alpine disciplines, downhill racers wear skin-tight suits to minimize drag, and helmets are mandatory.

In an attempt to increase safety, the 2003–2004 season saw the FIS increase the minimum sidecut radius for downhill skis to from , and impose minimum ski lengths for the first time: for men, and for women. For the 2024–2025 season, the FIS began mandating the use of an airbag device, which inflates automatically when a skier crashes, for all athletes competing in speed disciplines at the world cup level.

Races

In all forms of downhill, both at a local youth-level as well as the higher FIS international level, racers are allowed extensive preparation for the race, which includes daily course inspection and discussion with their coaches and teammates as well as several practice runs before the actual race. Racers do not make any unnecessary turns while on the course, and try to do everything they can to maintain the most aerodynamic position while negotiating turns and jumps.

Unlike slalom and giant slalom, where racers have the times of two runs combined, the downhill race is a single run. Times are typically between 1½ and 2½ minutes for World Cup courses and must be over 1 minute in duration to meet international minimum standards. Tenths and hundredths and, occasionally, thousandths of seconds count: World Cup races and Olympic medals have sometimes been decided by as little as one or two hundredths of a second, and ties are not unheard of.

The most successful all-time winners of World Cup downhill races are Annemarie Moser-Pröll of Austria (36 wins, 7 women's titles)International Ski Federation (FIS). Biography: Annemarie Moser-Pröll. FIS Legends. Retrieved on: 2011-12-27. and Franz Klammer of Austria (25 wins, 5 men's titles).International Ski Federation (FIS). Biography: Franz Klammer. FIS Legends. Retrieved on: 2011-12-27. Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. is currently dominant in woman's downhill racing with a lifetime total of 37 World Cup downhill wins and 7 women's titles.International Ski Federation (FIS). Biography: Lindsey Vonn. FIS Legends. Retrieved on: 2011-12-27.The Australian (December 05, 2011). Lindsey Vonn wins 23rd World Cup downhill in Canada. Retrieved on: 2011-12-27.

Risks

On some courses, such as the Lauberhorn course in Wengen, Switzerland, and the Hahnenkamm course in Kitzbühel, Austria, speeds of up to are common. Safety netting and padding are placed where race officials anticipate potential crashes. Despite these safety precautions, the ski racing community is well aware of the inherent risks of downhill skiing, for it is possible for racers to suffer serious injury or death while practising or competing. Three deaths among World Cup racers in the past 40 years in downhill training or during a race were those of Austrians Gernot Reinstadler (1991) and Ulrike Maier (1994), and Frenchman Régine Cavagnoud (2001). Also in 2001, Swiss downhiller Silvano Beltrametti was paralyzed in a high-speed crash and 1984 Olympic gold medalist Bill Johnson suffered permanent brain damage that eventually led to a crippling stroke which left him unable to function without assistance. Most recently Frenchman David Poisson was killed in a training crash in 2017. Speaking to media after Poisson's death, French former downhiller Luc Alphand noted that "eliminating risk entirely in downhill is impossible".

Men's World Cup podiums In the following table men's downhill World Cup podium results in the World Cup since the first season in 1967. Winners receive a distinctive crystal globe.

Season1st2nd3rd1967 Jean-Claude Killy Guy Périllat Franz Vogler1968 Gerhard Nenning Jean-Claude Killy Karl Schranz1969 Karl Schranz Henri Duvillard Heinrich Messner1970 Karl Cordin Karl Schranz Henri Duvillard1971 Bernhard Russi Bernard Orcel Karl Cordin1972 Bernhard Russi Karl Schranz Mike Lafferty1973 Roland Collombin Bernhard Russi Marcello Varallo1974 Roland Collombin Franz Klammer Herbert Plank1975 Franz Klammer Werner Grissmann Herbert Plank1976 Franz Klammer Herbert Plank Bernhard Russi1977 Franz Klammer Josef Walcher Bernhard Russi1978 Franz Klammer Josef Walcher Herbert Plank1979 Peter Müller Peter Wirnsberger Toni Bürgler1980 Peter Müller Ken Read Herbert Plank1981 Harti Weirather Steve Podborski Peter Müller1982 Steve Podborski Peter Müller Harti Weirather1983 Franz Klammer Conradin Cathomen Harti Weirather1984 Urs Räber Erwin Resch Bill Johnson1985 Helmut Höflehner Peter Müller Karl Alpiger1986 Peter Wirnsberger Peter Müller Michael Mair1987 Pirmin Zurbriggen Peter Müller Franz Heinzer1988 Pirmin Zurbriggen Michael Mair Rob Boyd1989 Marc Girardelli Helmut Höflehner Daniel Mahrer1990 Helmut Höflehner Atle Skårdal Pirmin Zurbriggen1991 Franz Heinzer Atle Skårdal Daniel Mahrer1992 Franz Heinzer Daniel Mahrer A.J. Kitt1993 Franz Heinzer Atle Skårdal William Besse1994 Marc Girardelli Hannes Trinkl Patrick Ortlieb1995 Luc Alphand Kristian Ghedina Patrick Ortlieb1996 Luc Alphand Guenther Mader Patrick Ortlieb1997 Luc Alphand Kristian Ghedina Fritz Strobl1998 Andreas Schifferer Hermann Maier Nicolas Burtin1999 Lasse Kjus Andreas Schifferer Werner Franz2000 Hermann Maier Kristian Ghedina Josef Strobl2001 Hermann Maier Stephan Eberharter Fritz Strobl2002 Stephan Eberharter Fritz Strobl Kristian Ghedina2003 Stephan Eberharter Daron Rahlves Michael Walchhofer2004 Stephan Eberharter Daron Rahlves Hermann Maier2005 Michael Walchhofer Bode Miller Hermann Maier2006 Michael Walchhofer Fritz Strobl Daron Rahlves2007 Didier Cuche Marco Büchel Erik Guay2008 Didier Cuche Bode Miller Michael Walchhofer2009 Michael Walchhofer Klaus Kröll Didier Défago2010 Didier Cuche Carlo Janka Werner Heel2011 Didier Cuche Michael Walchhofer Klaus Kröll2012 Klaus Kröll Beat Feuz Didier Cuche2013 Aksel Lund Svindal Klaus Kröll Dominik Paris2014 Aksel Lund Svindal Hannes Reichelt Erik Guay2015 Kjetil Jansrud Hannes Reichelt Guillermo Fayed2016 Peter Fill Aksel Lund Svindal Dominik Paris2017 Peter Fill Kjetil Jansrud Dominik Paris2018 Beat Feuz Aksel Lund Svindal Thomas Dreßen2019 Beat Feuz Dominik Paris Vincent Kriechmayr2020 Beat Feuz Thomas Dreßen Matthias Mayer2021 Beat Feuz Matthias Mayer Dominik Paris2022 Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Beat Feuz Dominik Paris2023 Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Vincent Kriechmayr Marco Odermatt2024 Marco Odermatt Cyprien Sarrazin Dominik Paris

Women's World Cup podiums In the following table women's downhill World Cup podium results in the World Cup since the first season in 1967. Winners receive a distinctive crystal globe.

Season1st2nd3rd1967 Marielle Goitschel Isabelle Mir Giustina Demetz1968 Isabelle Mir Olga Pall Christl Haas1969 Wiltrud Drexel Isabelle Mir Olga Pall 1970 Isabelle Mir Annie Famose Florence Steurer1971 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Wiltrud Drexel Françoise Macchi1972 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Wiltrud Drexel Marie-Thérèse Nadig1973 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Wiltrud Drexel Jacqueline Rouvier 1974 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Marie-Thérèse Nadig Wiltrud Drexel1975 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Bernadette Zurbriggen Marie-Thérèse Nadig 1976 Brigitte Totschnig Bernadette Zurbriggen Nicola Spieß1977 Brigitte Totschnig Annemarie Moser-Pröll Marie-Thérèse Nadig1978 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Cindy Nelson Marie-Thérèse Nadig 1979 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Bernadette Zurbriggen Marie-Thérèse Nadig 1980 Marie-Thérèse Nadig Annemarie Moser-Pröll Hanni Wenzel1981 Marie-Thérèse Nadig Doris De Agostini Cornelia Pröll 1982 Marie-Cécile Gros-Gaudenier Doris De Agostini Holly Flanders 1983 Doris De Agostini Maria Walliser Elisabeth Kirchler1984 Maria Walliser Irene Epple Hanni Wenzel 1985 Michela Figini Maria Walliser Brigitte Oertli 1986 Maria Walliser Katrin Gutensohn Laurie Graham 1987 Michela Figini Maria Walliser Laurie Graham 1988 Michela Figini Brigitte Oertli Maria Walliser1989 Michela Figini Maria Walliser Michaela Gerg 1990 Katrin Gutensohn Petra Kronberger Michela Figini Michaela Gerg1991 Chantal Bournissen Sabine Ginther Petra Kronberger1992 Katja Seizinger Petra Kronberger Miriam Vogt1993 Katja Seizinger Regina Häusl Kerrin Lee-Gartner1994 Katja Seizinger Kate Pace Mélanie Suchet1995 Picabo Street Hilary Lindh Katja Seizinger 1996 Picabo Street Katja Seizinger Isolde Kostner Heidi Zurbriggen1997 Renate Götschl Heidi Zurbriggen Varvara Zelenskaya1998 Katja Seizinger Renate Götschl Isolde Kostner 1999 Renate Götschl Alexandra Meissnitzer Michaela Dorfmeister2000 Regina Häusl Renate Götschl Isolde Kostner2001 Isolde Kostner Renate Götschl Régine Cavagnoud2002 Isolde Kostner Michaela Dorfmeister Corinne Rey-Bellet2003 Michaela Dorfmeister Renate Götschl Kirsten Clark2004 Renate Götschl Hilde Gerg Carole Montillet2005 Renate Götschl Hilde Gerg Michaela Dorfmeister2006 Michaela Dorfmeister Lindsey Kildow Renate Götschl2007 Renate Götschl Julia Mancuso Lindsey Kildow2008 Lindsey Vonn Renate Götschl Britt Janyk2009 Lindsey Vonn Andrea Fischbacher Maria Riesch2010 Lindsey Vonn Maria Riesch Anja Pärson2011 Lindsey Vonn Maria Riesch Julia Mancuso2012 Lindsey Vonn Tina Weirather Elisabeth Görgl2013 Lindsey Vonn Tina Maze Maria Höfl-Riesch2014 Maria Höfl-Riesch Anna Fenninger Tina Maze2015 Lindsey Vonn Anna Fenninger Tina Maze2016 Lindsey Vonn Fabienne Suter Larisa Yurkiw2017 Ilka Stuhec Sofia Goggia Lara Gut2018 Sofia Goggia Lindsey Vonn Tina Weirather2019 Nicole Schmidhofer Stephanie Venier Ramona Siebenhofer2020 Corinne Suter Ester Ledecka Federica Brignone2021 Sofia Goggia Corinne Suter Lara Gut-Behrami2022 Sofia Goggia Corinne Suter Ester Ledecká2023 Sofia Goggia Ilka Stuhec Corinne Suter2024 Cornelia Hütter Lara Gut-Behrami Sofia Goggia

Downhill at the "big competitions"

Medal table