Editing FIS Alpine Ski World Cup (section)

==Rules==
Competitors attempt to achieve the best time in four disciplines: [[Slalom skiing|slalom]], [[giant slalom]], [[super G]], and [[Downhill (ski competition)|downhill]]. The fifth event, the [[Alpine skiing combined|combined]], employs the downhill and slalom. The World Cup originally included only slalom, giant slalom, and downhill races. Combined events (calculated using results from selected downhill and slalom races) were included starting with the [[1974–75 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup|1974–75]] season, while the Super G was added at the [[1982–83 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup|1982–83]] season.

The [[#Scoring system|current scoring system]] was implemented in the [[1991–92 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup|1991–92]] season. For every race points are awarded to the top 30 finishers: 100 points to the winner, 80 for second, 60 for third, winding down to 1 point for 30th place. The racer with the most points at the end of the season in mid-March wins the cup, represented by a 9&nbsp;kilogram crystal globe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fis-ski.com/cms/impression_page.htm?page_id=2400&gab_id=5&id_newsflash=18&URL=%2Ffr%2Factualitesinformations%2F1687%2Fnewsflash2006 |title=FIS NewsFlash, Edition 72, April 26th, 2006 |access-date=15 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930042331/http://www.fis-ski.com/cms/impression_page.htm?page_id=2400&gab_id=5&id_newsflash=18&URL=%2Ffr%2Factualitesinformations%2F1687%2Fnewsflash2006 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sub-prizes are also awarded in each individual race discipline, with a smaller 3.5&nbsp;kg crystal globe.

Since [[1967 Alpine Skiing World Cup|1967]], the big crystal globe has been awarded for the overall title. From the beginning to [[1977 Alpine Skiing World Cup|1971–72]], discipline titles were awarded with medals. Statistically, those titles have the same value as the small crystal globes, which first appeared for discipline titles in [[Slalom skiing|slalom]], [[giant slalom]] and [[Downhill (ski competition)|downhill]] in the [[1978 Alpine Skiing World Cup|1977–78]]. In [[super-G]], the small globe has been awarded since [[1986 Alpine Skiing World Cup|1985–86]]. For super-g races in the three seasons previous, points were added and calculated in the giant slalom ranking.

The World Cup is held annually, and is considered the premier competition for alpine ski racing after the quadrennial [[Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics]]. Many consider the World Cup to be a more valuable title than the Olympics or the biennial [[FIS Alpine World Ski Championships|World Championships]], since it requires a competitor to ski at an extremely high level in several disciplines throughout the season, and not just in one race.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fisalpine.com/fis-info/world-cup-history.html |title=World Cup History: The FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup |access-date= 14 December 2008|last=Lang |first=Patrick}}</ref>

Races are hosted primarily at [[ski resort]]s in the [[Alps]] in Europe, with regular stops in [[Scandinavia]], North America, and east Asia, but a few races have also been held in the Southern Hemisphere. World Cup competitions have been hosted in 25 countries around the world: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, [[Italy national alpine ski team|Italy]], Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=FIS: Complete Calendar of Alpine Ski World Cup Races |url=http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/disciplines/alpineskiing/fiscalendar.html?place_search=&seasoncode_search=all&sector_search=AL&category_search=WC&rec_start=0&limit=100 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730022851/http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/disciplines/alpineskiing/fiscalendar.html?place_search=&seasoncode_search=all&sector_search=AL&category_search=WC&rec_start=0&limit=100 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2012 |access-date=12 February 2012 }}</ref>

Lower competitive circuits include the [[NorAm Cup]] in [[North America]] and the [[Alpine Skiing Europa Cup|Europa Cup]] in Europe.

<gallery>
FIS Crystal Globe.svg|Crystal&nbsp;Globe of the World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;Winner
Bib Red.png|Red&nbsp;Bib of the World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;Leader
</gallery>