The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2005 were held from January 28 to February 13 in Bormio, Italy. The women's competition was held in neighboring Santa Caterina.[1]
In northern Italy, Bormio is a regular stop on the World Cup circuit, usually for a men's downhill in late December. The Pista Stelvio is among the longest and most challenging downhill courses in the world, with a vertical drop exceeding 1,000 metres (3,280 ft).
These were the last World Championships to use the traditional combined (K) format (one downhill run and two slalom runs). Starting in 2007, the world championships switched to the "super-combined" (SC) format (one run each of downhill & slalom) for the combined event. First run on the World Cup circuit in 2005 at Wengen, the "super-combi" format made its debut at the Winter Olympics in 2010.
This competition was held for the first time in these world championships. Six athletes of a country, including at least two men and two women, start in a total of four super G and four slalom runs. Each country sends one athlete into each run, men's and women's runs taking turns. The placings of all eight competitions are added and the country with the lowest number wins. If an athlete doesn't finish a run, the country receives 9 points.