Carve: A crisp turn referring to the technique used in Alpine ski racing. When carving, a skier turns their skis onto their edges, a metal strip fixed along the bottom of the ski, which can cut through ice or snow and allow skiers to perform precise turns necessary for a fast run on a race course.

Mikaela Shiffrin's fourth trip to the Olympics came with a golden ending. The skiing star won the slalom on the world's biggest stage for the first time in 12 years with a triumphant performance in Cortina.

By Sara Rossi CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The thrill Alpine skiers delivered during the Milano Cortina Olympics may soon become more difficult to achieve for aspiring youngsters as new generations of athletes struggle with the soaring costs of a sport that is becoming increasingly elite.