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Alpine and cross-country skiing

Two skiing disciplines are recorded here. Alpine racers ski down a course one at a time against the clock, passing through every gate; the fastest time wins, and missing a gate means disqualification. There are four main events, of which the downhill is the longest and fastest; the super-G sits between the downhill and the giant slalom. Cross-country skiers race over marked courses of climbs, rolling ground and descents using only their own strength, in classic or free technique, with interval, mass and other starts.

Checked 20 October 2026

New to alpine and cross-country skiing? Start here

Which to watch first, and how long

Start with Alpine. One skier at a time and one clock: the fastest down the hill wins.

Alpine
One skier at a time down a course of gates; the fastest time wins, two runs added in two-run events
Cross-country
Races over a set distance, some one skier at a time against the clock, others with everyone starting together

Lengths are from the rule book.

The big events, and why they matter

  1. 1Winter Olympic Games (skiing)The title each skiing discipline is measured by.Every 4 years · Holder: Switzerland 4 golds of 10; Norway 7 golds and Sweden 5 of the 12
  2. 2FIS Alpine World Ski ChampionshipsAlpine skiing's world title, event by event.Every 2 years · Holder: Switzerland 5 golds of 11
  3. 3FIS Nordic World Ski ChampionshipsCross-country skiing's world title (with ski jumping and Nordic combined).Every 2 years · Holder: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won all six men's events
  4. 4Asian Winter Games (skiing)Asia's winter multi-sport title.About every 4 years; next Almaty 2029 · Holder: Japan won both alpine golds
All 9 alpine and cross-country skiing tournaments →

India

Arif Khan at six FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, 2013 to 2025.

Countries to know

India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.

  • NorwayCross-country skiing at the Olympic Games: 59 golds, 45 silvers, 39 bronzes (latest 2026); FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (cross-country): 122 golds, 77 silvers, 84 bronzes (latest 2025)
  • AustriaAlpine skiing at the Olympic Games: 41 golds, 46 silvers, 45 bronzes (latest 2026); FIS Alpine World Ski Championships: 103 golds, 108 silvers, 102 bronzes (latest 2025)
  • SwitzerlandAlpine skiing at the Olympic Games: 31 golds, 26 silvers, 27 bronzes (latest 2026); FIS Alpine World Ski Championships: 77 golds, 78 silvers, 69 bronzes (latest 2025)
  • SwedenCross-country skiing at the Olympic Games: 37 golds, 31 silvers, 26 bronzes (latest 2026); FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (cross-country): 56 golds, 50 silvers, 52 bronzes (latest 2025)
  • FranceAlpine skiing at the Olympic Games: 16 golds, 18 silvers, 18 bronzes (latest 2026); FIS Alpine World Ski Championships: 47 golds, 51 silvers, 38 bronzes (latest 2023)
Every country in alpine and cross-country skiing →

Who runs it

Rules made byInternational Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), International Competition Rules: Book IV, Joint Regulations for Alpine Skiing (July 2026), and Book II, Cross-Country (June 2026)
International federationInternational Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS)
In IndiaThe Bharatiya Ski and Snowboard Association (BSSA), a Full Member of FIS since its Congress of 11 June 2026, which ended the membership of Ski and Snowboard India after a governance dispute; in October 2026 FIS said it was still working with the Indian Olympic Association on recognition.

Where and when it is played

Alpine on a course of gates, cross-country on homologated courses that are about one third climbs, one third rolling terrain and one third descents, starting and finishing in a stadium. The big events: the Winter Olympic Games every four years and the FIS Alpine and Nordic World Ski Championships every two years.

Everything on Alpine and cross-country skiing