Alpine Skiing is an exciting winter sport that challenges the athlete's ability and coordination for racing down a mountain. High level Special Olympics Alpine Skiing athletes may reach speeds of up to 64 kilometers per hour. The 1997 Special Olympics World Winter Games provided a stage for over 300 athletes to compete in Alpine Skiing events. 
Alpine Skiing was first introduced as an Official Special Olympics Winter Sport at the 1977 World Games in Steamboat Springs, CO. Since those games, the number of athletes competing in Special Olympics Alpine Skiing has grown by 300 percent. Today, it is estimated that there are 15,000 athletes competing in Alpine Skiing throughout 50 countries worldwide.  

The following briefly describes the different events offered in Special Olympics Alpine Skiing: 

• The events offered by Special Olympics in Alpine Skiing have increased to accommodate every ability level of athlete interested in competing. Three different ability levels of athletes compete in the downhill, slalom and giant slalom events. For each of these categories, the courses are set to be appropriate for advanced, intermediate or novice ability athletes.  

• Additionally, athletes can compete in Unified Sports competition for the downhill, slalom, and giant slalom events. Unified Sports¨ is a program that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes with peer athletes without mental retardation (Partners) on sports teams for training and competition. In this category, the times of the athlete and the partner are combined to create the Unified team score.  

• For those athletes with lower ability or just beginning, Special Olympics offers events such as the 10 Meter Walk, Glide and Super Glide. 

Olympic medalist, Billy Kidd, and professional ski champion, Julie Parisien, regularly participate and conduct clinics for Special Olympics athletes in addition to presenting medals and ribbons to the athletes. 
The Special Olympics Alpine Skiing program is represented on the Disabled Subcommittee of the U.S. Ski Association. Additionally, Special Olympics Alpine Skiing has been recognized by the U.S. Ski Coaches Association and the Professional Ski Instructors of America. The program receives support from Rossignol Skis, Atomic Skis and Columbia Sportswear.  Special Olympics is the first organization, other than a National Olympic Committee, to be officially recognized and endorsed by the International Olympic Committee.

Coaches Resources

International Governing Body:   www.fis-ski.com

US Governing Body:          www.usskiteam.com

Coaches Alpine Skiing Guides