Para-alpine: How it works

Paralympic alpine skiers compete in the same disciplines as their Olympic peers: men's and women's downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super combined and super-G. Within each of those disciplines there are three categories: sit-ski, standing and visually impaired.

Visually impaired skiers are accompanied down the course by a guide, who offers directions -- on when to turn, for example -- either through radio equipment or by voice. The guide must ski in front of the Paralympian, unless the athlete has no vision at all, in which case the guide can choose to lead or trail the athlete.

Sit-skiers use a mono-ski, while standing skiers can use poles -- like Olympic skiers do -- or stabilizers, a more supportive pole with a small ski on the end.

Like the other Paralympic snow sports, a factoring system is used to take into account the athletes' various disabilities.

The downhill and super-G are the two speed events. The downhill is the longest course producing the fastest times. The super-G course -- which requires more precise turns -- is shorter than the downhill course, but longer than the other courses. In each case, athletes complete one run. The athlete with the fastest (adjusted) time wins.

The other disciplines all require skiers to complete two runs, on different courses.

The slalom course is the shortest but most demanding technically, requiring the sharpest turns. The giant slalom is longer, with fewer, wider turns. The athlete with the fastest (adjusted) combined time wins.

The super combined involves one downhill and two slalom runs, with the times added together. The fastest total (adjusted) time wins.