Winter Olympics preview: Super G

Get down the hill fast, but be sure to go through the gates. The Super Giant Slalom combines the speed of the Downhill with the technical precision of the Giant Slalom. It debuted somewhat controversially as an official World Cup event during the 1983 season and was added to the official schedule of the World Championships in 1987, then the Winter Olympics in 1988.

Details

• 64 male competitors; 53 female competitors.

• One timed run.

Schedule

All times EST.

Most Likely Podium (Men)

1. Aksel Lund Svindal (Norway): Before winning a bronze medal in this event at the 2013 World Championships, Svindal finished first in the World Cup Standings for Super G in 2012 and 2013. The winner of three Olympic medals at the 2010 Games, the Norwegian has already won two Super G races in the 2014 season.

2. Hannes Reichelt (Austria): Despite finding more success doing Downhill in recent years, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Reichelt, a 33-year-old veteran, cut his teeth in Super G.

3. Adrien Theaux (France): Coming off a podium finish in Super G at a race just before Christmas, Theaux is looking to make his mark after failing to medal in any event during his Olympic debut four years ago.

Most Likely Podium (Women)

1. Anna Fenninger (Austria): After three podium finishes in Super G already this season, Fenninger would gladly save that elusive first place for the biggest stage of all.

2. Maria Hoefl-Riesch (Germany): Every year since 2008, Hoefl-Riesch has finished in the top ten of the World Cup Standings for Super G. She remains a threat despite not winning a Super G race since the 2011 season.

3. Tina Weirather (Liechtenstein): In only three seasons on the World Cup circuit, Weirather has accumulated 13 podium finishes, five from Super G, including two of her three first place finishes.

2013 FIS World Championships (Men)

1. Ted Ligety (United States)

2. Gauthier de Tessieres (France)

3. Aksel Lund Svindal (Norway)

2013 FIS World Championships (Women)

1. Tina Maze (Slovenia)

2. Lara Gut (Switzerland)

3. Julia Mancuso (United States)

2010 Winter Olympics Podium (Men)

1. Aksel Lund Svindal (Norway)

2. Bode Miller (United States)

3. Andrew Weibrecht (United States)

2010 Winter Olympics Podium (Women)

1. Andrea Fischbacher (Austria)

2. Tina Maze (Slovenia)

3. Lindsey Vonn (United States)