der Slalom
slalom
A discipline in winter sports (skiing or snowboarding) in which a course marked by gates must be completed in the shortest possible time.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat die Goldmedaille im Slalom gewonnen.
She won the gold medal in the slalom.
der Slalom
slalom
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Meanings
der Slalom
slalom
A movement in a zigzag pattern to avoid obstacles. Often used figuratively for vehicles or people.
EXAMPLE
Der Radfahrer fuhr im Slalom um die Fußgänger auf dem vollen Gehweg.
The cyclist slalomed around the pedestrians on the crowded sidewalk.
der Slalom
slalom course
The course or route itself, consisting of the gates or poles that have been set up.
EXAMPLE
Der Trainer hat für das heutige Training einen sehr anspruchsvollen Slalom gesteckt.
The coach set up a very challenging slalom course for today’s training.
Usage tips
Use with 'im'
Movement in a zigzag pattern is almost always expressed with the preposition 'im': 'im Slalom fahren' (to ski/drive in a slalom) or 'im Slalom laufen' (to run/walk in a slalom). This applies both to sports and to the figurative meaning.
EXAMPLE
Der Skifahrer fuhr elegant im Slalom den Hang hinunter.
The skier elegantly skied down the slope in a slalom.
Figurative meaning
The movement of a slalom is often used figuratively for everyday situations in which you have to avoid obstacles. For example, you can walk in a slalom around puddles, people, or furniture.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Weg zur U-Bahn musste ich im Slalom um die vielen Touristen laufen.
On the way to the subway, I had to weave around the many tourists in a slalom.
Typical verbs in sports
In the context of skiing, 'Slalom' (slalom) is often combined with the verbs 'fahren' (to ski/ride) and 'gewinnen' (to win). When the course is set up, the verb 'stecken' is used: 'Der Trainer steckt einen Slalom' (the coach sets a slalom course).
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Rennen stecken die Organisatoren einen schwierigen Slalom.
Before the race, the organizers set a difficult slalom course.
Compare with
Slalom vs Riesenslalom
giant slalom
Slalom and Riesenslalom are both alpine skiing disciplines with gates, but their courses differ. In Riesenslalom, the gates are farther apart, so skiers make wider turns and usually go faster. Use “Slalom” as a general term or for the tighter discipline, and “Riesenslalom” for the version with greater distances between the gates.
Slalom
Beim Slalom muss die Skifahrerin viele eng stehende Tore in kurzer Zeit durchfahren.
In slalom, the skier has to pass through many closely spaced gates in a short time.
Riesenslalom
Beim Riesenslalom fährt der Skifahrer wegen der weiter auseinanderstehenden Tore größere Kurven.
In giant slalom, the skier makes wider turns because the gates are farther apart.
In real life
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