Downhill is one of the marquee events of alpine skiing, and it's where skiers clock the fastest times, reaching speeds of about 80 to 100 mph. In this discipline, athletes race downhill while maneuvering gates, risers (or small hills), and the course's terrain. Risers can help increase an athlete's speed. However, jumps can also go terribly wrong if a skier falls out of their tucked position and loses their balance. Unlike other alpine skiing events, athletes are allowed trial runs before their official start.