Slalom refers to a sport in which participants attempt to complete a course, in the fastest time, while passing through marked channels known as gates. Failing to pass through a gate normally incurs a time penalty. The word slalom origininates from the Norwegian word slalåm: "sla," meaning steep hillside, and "låm," meaning track after skis. "Ski" and "fjord" are examples of other 'Norwegian' words.

Examples of this include slalom skiing; slalom canoeing; slalom waterskiing ; slalom skating .