Gate Passage in the DH, GS, and SG:
In Downhill, Giant Slalom, and Super-G, a gate consists of two pairs of poles holding banners between them. The gate line is the imaginary shortest line between the two inner poles at snow level. (661.4.1.1) The "outer pole" serves to support the gate panel only.
In the Downhill, panel colors do not alternate from gate to gate, but are set in a single color for the entire length.
In the event that a competitor removes a pole from it’s
vertical position before
both the competitor’s ski tips and both feet have passed the gate line, the
ski tips and feet must still pass the original gate line (marking in the snow).
(661.4.1.3) .Gate panels are used in this way to provide a visible guide to a
racer traveling at higher speeds. Throughout the progression from Slalom, to
Giant Slalom, Super-G, and Downhill the gate spacing lengthens more and more and
the speeds increase. As speeds and gate spacing increases, panels become
necessary to provide a more reliable visual reference to the racer. Racers often
spot their line by looking ahead three to four gates from their current position
on course.