Is 'giant slalom' the same as 'Super-G'?

No. Giant Slalom (GS) and Super-G (Super Giant Slalom) are distinct disciplines. Super-G has gates set even farther apart than in Giant Slalom, and the course is longer and faster, resembling downhill more closely.

Can 'giant slalom' be used outside of sports?

Yes, but only figuratively. It is used as a metaphor for any long, complex series of obstacles or challenges that must be navigated skillfully and in sequence (e.g., 'a giant slalom of legal hurdles'). This usage is informal.

What is the correct verb to use with 'giant slalom'?

Common verbs are: 'to race/in the giant slalom', 'to compete in the giant slalom', 'to win the giant slalom'. The event is something you enter or participate in.

How do you abbreviate 'giant slalom'?

In sports results and commentary, it is almost universally abbreviated as 'GS'. For example, 'Mikaela Shiffrin, GS World Champion'.

Is “giant slalom” formal?

Giant slalom is usually technical / sports journalism in register.

How do you pronounce “giant slalom”?

Giant slalom: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒaɪənt ˈslɑːləm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒaɪənt ˈslɑːləm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

giant slalom: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˌdʒaɪənt ˈslɑːləm/US/ˌdʒaɪənt ˈslɑːləm/

Technical / Sports Journalism

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “giant slalom” mean?

An alpine skiing discipline in which skiers race downhill through a course marked by gates set farther apart than in slalom but closer than in Super-G.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

An alpine skiing discipline in which skiers race downhill through a course marked by gates set farther apart than in slalom but closer than in Super-G.

Any event, task, or situation involving a lengthy, winding, and challenging sequence of obstacles or decisions that must be navigated in quick succession.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related terms may differ (e.g., 'skiing centre' vs. 'skiing center').

Connotations

Identical technical meaning. In figurative use, equally understood.

Frequency

Slightly higher frequency in British media during Winter Olympics coverage, reflecting greater general interest in alpine sports, but the term itself is equally technical in both varieties.

Grammar

How to Use “giant slalom” in a Sentence

to compete in [the] giant slalomto be a specialist in giant slalomto set a course for the giant slalom

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

win the giant slalomgold medal in the giant slalomgiant slalom eventWorld Cup giant slalomOlympic giant slalom

medium

run the giant slalomfirst run of the giant slalomgiant slalom racedisqualified from the giant slalom

weak

difficult giant slalomfast giant slalomicy giant slalom course

Examples

Examples of “giant slalom” in a Sentence

verb

British English

He hopes to giant slalom his way through the corporate bureaucracy. (highly informal, figurative)

American English

The new policy forces us to giant slalom through endless compliance checks. (highly informal, figurative)

adjective

British English

She is a giant-slalom specialist.
The giant-slalom course was exceptionally tough this year.

American English

He has a giant slalom medal from the Games.
The giant slalom event is scheduled for Tuesday.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used metaphorically for complex, multi-stage processes: 'The merger approval was a regulatory giant slalom.'

Academic

Rare, except in sports science literature discussing alpine skiing techniques and event structures.

Everyday

Almost exclusively in contexts discussing winter sports, especially during the Olympics.

Technical

Precise term in alpine skiing, with specific rules regarding gate placement, vertical drop, and timing.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “giant slalom”

Strong

GS (abbreviation)

Neutral

alpine combined (in a broader sense)technical event (skiing context)

Weak

downhill race (different discipline)slalom (different, tighter gates)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “giant slalom”

downhill (pure speed event)freestyle skiingcross-country skiing

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “giant slalom”

Using 'giant slalom' as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'I like to watch giant slalom'). It is countable: 'I like to watch *the* giant slalom' or 'giant slalom events'.
Confusing it with 'Super-G' (Super Giant Slalom), which has gates set even farther apart.
Misspelling 'slalom' as 'salom' or 'slalam'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. Giant Slalom (GS) and Super-G (Super Giant Slalom) are distinct disciplines. Super-G has gates set even farther apart than in Giant Slalom, and the course is longer and faster, resembling downhill more closely.
: Yes, but only figuratively. It is used as a metaphor for any long, complex series of obstacles or challenges that must be navigated skillfully and in sequence (e.g., 'a giant slalom of legal hurdles'). This usage is informal.
: Common verbs are: 'to race/in the giant slalom', 'to compete in the giant slalom', 'to win the giant slalom'. The event is something you enter or participate in.
: In sports results and commentary, it is almost universally abbreviated as 'GS'. For example, 'Mikaela Shiffrin, GS World Champion'.
: An alpine skiing discipline in which skiers race downhill through a course marked by gates set farther apart than in slalom but closer than in Super-G.
: Giant slalom is usually technical / sports journalism in register.
: Giant slalom: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒaɪənt ˈslɑːləm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒaɪənt ˈslɑːləm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“"a giant slalom of paperwork" (figurative: a long, complex series of tasks)”
“"navigate a giant slalom of regulations"”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'GIANT' gates are bigger/farther apart than in regular slalom, but you still have to 'SLALOM' (zigzag) through them.

Conceptual Metaphor

LIFE/DIFFICULT TASKS ARE A SKI RACE: A challenging, obstacle-filled path requiring skill and agility to navigate successfully.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The alpine skiing events at the festival included downhill, slalom, and .

Multiple Choice

What is the primary defining characteristic of a giant slalom course compared to a regular slalom?