der  Riesenslalom

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʁiːzənˌslalom/

🎿 What Exactly is a Riesenslalom?

Der Riesenslalom (sometimes also called Riesentorlauf in German) is a discipline in alpine skiing. It's a race where skiers must navigate a course marked by widely spaced gates as quickly as possible. The gates consist of pairs of poles (red and blue), which must be passed alternately.

The name combines Riese (giant, huge) and Slalom, indicating the larger gate distances and resulting higher speeds compared to the classic slalom.

The word is masculine in German, so it's always der Riesenslalom.

⛷️ Giant Slalom Grammar Guide

The noun "Riesenslalom" is masculine.

Example Sentences

1. Der heutige Riesenslalom war besonders anspruchsvoll. (Today's giant slalom was particularly challenging.)
2. Die Technik des Riesenslaloms erfordert Kraft und Präzision. (The technique of giant slalom requires strength and precision.)
3. Dem Sieger des Riesenslaloms wurde die Goldmedaille überreicht. (The winner of the giant slalom was awarded the gold medal.)
4. Viele Fans verfolgten den spannenden Riesenslalom im Fernsehen. (Many fans watched the exciting giant slalom on TV.)
5. Bei den Olympischen Spielen gibt es mehrere Riesenslaloms für Männer und Frauen. (At the Olympic Games, there are several giant slaloms for men and women.)

🏁 How is 'der Riesenslalom' Used?

The term "Riesenslalom" is primarily used in the context of alpine ski racing. It denotes a specific competitive discipline characterized by its course setting, distinguishing it from others like:

• Slalom (tighter gate spacing, lower speed)
• Super-G (even wider gate spacing, higher speed)
• Abfahrt (Downhill; longest course, highest speed, fewest gates)

Common phrases include: ein Riesenslalom-Rennen (a giant slalom race), ein Riesenslalom-Weltcup (a giant slalom World Cup), or ein Riesenslalom-Spezialist (a giant slalom specialist).

Colloquially, Germans often shorten it to "Riesen" if the context is clear (e.g., "Heute steht der Riesen der Herren an." - "Today is the men's giant slalom.").

Confusion might arise with the regular Slalom, but the key difference lies in the width of the gates and the speed.

🧠 Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of DERing (daring) GIANT (Riesen-) attempting the slalom. It's a masculine, daring act -> der Riesenslalom.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a GIANT (Riese) needing GIANT turns to get through the wide slalom gates. That's a Riesenslalom.

🔄 Similar and Contrasting Terms

Related Terms (Other Ski Disciplines)

• Super-G (Super-Riesenslalom): A discipline between giant slalom and downhill.
• Kombination (Combined): A competition usually consisting of a downhill/Super-G run and a slalom run.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Skilehrer: "Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem guten Skifahrer und einem sehr guten Skifahrer beim Riesenslalom?" Der Schüler überlegt: "Die Zeit?" Skilehrer: "Nein! Der sehr gute Skifahrer schafft es, nach dem Zieldurchlauf nicht sofort nach Glühwein zu fragen!" 😉

English Translation: The ski instructor asks: "What's the difference between a good skier and a very good skier in giant slalom?" The student thinks: "The time?" Instructor: "No! The very good skier manages not to immediately ask for mulled wine after crossing the finish line!" 😉

📜 Poem: Dance of the Giant Gates

German:
Der Berg ruft, der Schnee glänzt klar,
Der Riesenslalom ist nun da.
Von Tor zu Tor, ein schneller Ritt,
Mit Kraft und Schwung, Schritt für Schritt.
Rot, blau, die Stangen fliegen,
Nur wer präzise fährt, wird siegen.
Ein Tanz auf Kanten, schnell und breit,
Das ist die Kunst der Pistenzeit.

English Translation:
The mountain calls, the snow shines clear,
The giant slalom now is here.
From gate to gate, a rapid ride,
With strength and swing, stride by stride.
Red, blue, the poles fly past so fast,
Only precision makes you last.
A dance on edges, swift and wide,
That is the art of the piste-tide.

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich bin ein Rennen, schnell und lang,
Nicht Slalom kurz, nicht Abfahrt bang.
Mit weiten Toren, rot und blau,
Auf Skiern fährt man mich genau.
Mein erster Teil klingt riesengroß,
Der zweite Teil fährt torlos?
Nein, Slalom steckt in meinem Namen rein.
Sag, welche Ski-Disziplin kann ich nur sein?

English Translation:
I am a race, both fast and long,
Not slalom short, nor downhill strong (in fear).
With wide gates set, in red and blue,
On skis you race me, it is true.
My first part sounds immensely vast,
My second part, no gates are passed?
No, 'slalom' is within my name.
Tell me, what ski discipline is my game?

Solution: Der Riesenslalom (Giant Slalom)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition

The word "Riesenslalom" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Riesen-: Prefixoid derived from "der Riese" (masculine, meaning 'giant'), signifying "very large", "huge".
• Slalom: Originating from Norwegian ("slalåm"), roughly meaning "sloping track".

Characteristics of Giant Slalom

• Considered one of the technical disciplines in alpine skiing.
• Requires a blend of technical skill (like slalom) and gliding ability (like speed disciplines).
• Gate distances are wider than in slalom but narrower than in Super-G.
• Competitions are usually held in two runs on different course settings.