Following is a brief outline of the five snowboarding events. Slalom and Parallel Slalom Snowboard slaloms are demanding events that test the rider's ability to combine speed with exacting turns in the race to the finish. Courses are set with combinations of gates that provide tight turns on the hill. The rider who finishes the course with the fastest time wins the event. In giant slalom the racecourse is longer and the gates are farther apart than for slalom.
Riders race at much faster speeds.
Because of the higher speeds, tactics and solid riding skills play a big part in successfully competing in this discipline. The pipe is generally 12-15 feet deep with several feet of vertical wall leading to the top. Snowboardcross Snowboardcross is the newest event to the snowboard scene and the roller derby of the hill. Riders start in groups of 4-6 and race through a challenging obstacle course, built with tabletop jumps, staircase drops, moguls, banked turns and tight corridors. The challenge comes from negotiating the obstacles, and the other riders, as each competitor tries to come out ahead of the pack.