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The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are almost here. Of all the races and competitions that happen, skiing and snowboarding events are some of the most exciting. In honor of the 2010 Games, we found everything you would want to know about Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding. Now you can watch the races and know exactly what is happening.

Olympic Alpine Skiing
Europeans have been taking part in alpine skiing for at least 150 years. In more recent years, the sport has adapted to include several cross-country techniques, such as steeper slopes and wider skis.

Alpine skiing grew in popularity in the 20th century with the advent of ski lifts. Until lifts were introduced, skiers would have to climb the hills before skiing down. Alpine skiing was first introduced to the Olympics at Garmisch-Patenkirchen in 1936. Different alpine events were added at the 1948, 1952 and 1988 games.

There are five main events in which alpine skiers can compete – downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom and super combined. Downhill races cover the longest distance and reach the highest speeds. Each skier makes a single run down a single course, with the fastest time winning. The super-G, or super giant slalom, combines speed with the precision of the giant slalom. Like the downhill event, each skier takes one run on one course with the fastest finisher winning. The super-G is shorter than the downhill, but longer than the giant slalom. The giant slalom has fewer, wider and smoother turns than the slalom. Each racer gets two runs down two courses. The skier with the fastest combined times wins. Slalom is the shortest course and has the fastest turns. Like the giant slalom, racers take two runs on two courses and the fastest combined time wins. The final event is the super combined, which features a downhill race and a slalom race. The skier with the best combined times win.

Olympic Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country has a long and rich history. By 1500, members of the Swedish army were fully equipped with skis and in 1767, the Norwegian army held cross-country skiing competitions. The first recorded civilian cross-country skiing event was in Tromso Norway in 1843. The event was introduced to the Olympics in 1924, in Chamonix. Ladies were able to compete in the 1952 Oslo Games and two events were added during the 1988 Games in Calgary.

The races combine the classic and free techniques to create a unique competition. Cross-country skiers have a number of events from which to choose, including individual starts, mass starts, pursuits, individual sprints and team sprints. Each event offers different challenges and different opportunities to show off the skiers’ range of unique abilities. The individual and mass starts are close races and often determined by photo finishes, while the sprints test a skier’s endurance.

Olympic Freestyle Skiing
Freestyle skiing started in the United States in 1966. It features a mixture of alpine skiing and acrobatics. The sport was first introduced to the Olympics at the Albertville Games in 1992. The aerial event was added in 1994.

There are three events in which freestyle skiers can take part – aerials, moguls and ski cross. Aerials show off the skier’s speed and mastery of back flips and twists. Skiers are judged on the quality of take off, height reached, form and body position as well as landing. Mogul courses offer a different challenge to competitors. Each course has two “air bumps” at the top and two at the bottom and skiers are required to complete two different jumps off the moguls. Their goal is to finish first with no technical errors or balance loss. The final event is a new one for 2010 – the ski cross. This course incorporates different types and sizes of turns with flat sections of snow, rolls and banks. The ski cross course most closely resembles the slopes recognized by recreational skiers.

Olympic Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a fun event to watch because it combines the skills needed for surfing, skateboarding and skiing. Snowboarding first became an Olympic event in 1981 at the Colorado Winter Games. The halfpipe and individual giant slalom were added for the 1998 Games. The parallel giant slalom replaced individual giant slalom at Salt Lake City in 2002 and snowboard cross was added at Torino in 2006.

Each of the three events offers a different challenge to participants. In the halfpipe, snowboarders show off their jumps, twists and tricks one at a time using a snow tube or ramp. Competitors are judged on heights they reach and their individual style. Two snowboarders go head to head in the parallel giant slalom. They face off in a course that is filled with a series of gates. The final event, snowboard cross, features four racers who navigate a course full of jumps and ramps.

If you still have questions about the events or want to learn more about the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, visit Zakta. Members are creating and refining guides about events, the games and the city itself. By Sundar Kadayam, Founder and CEO of Zakta. Article Source: Article Dashboard