Are alpine skiing and downhill the same thing?

Question

Are alpine skiing and downhill the same thing?

Answer 1

Yes the two names are for the same sport. Alpine skiing as opposed to the Nordic events originated in the Alps of Europe, vs the areas of the Scandinavian peninsula.

Answer 2

yes and no.

Downhill skiing is the sport and sometimes people call it alpine skiing but alpine skis are a type of downhill skis that are used for anything from double blacks to park skiing (tricks).

Answer 3

Alpine ski racing is racing down a hill through gates (poles) on a set course.  It includes slalom, giant slalom, super g and an event called the downhill.

The downhill has fewest gates and the skiers go the fastest.

For recreational skiing alpine and downhill are pretty much interchangeable.