This relationship dates back to the Native Americans, who hung empty gourds for Purple Martin nests. Most people welcome Purple Martin neighbors, as these birds are agile hunters and eat large quantities of winged insects. (However, contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes do not form a large part of their diet.) Purple Martins exhibit a very high level of site fidelity.
The vertical drop for a Super-G course must be between 350â650 m (1,150â2,130 ft) for men, 350â600 m (1,150â1,970 ft) for women, and 250â450 m (820â1,480 ft) for children. In the Olympic Winter Games, FIS World Ski Championships, and FIS World Cups, minimums are raised to 400 m (1,300 ft) for both men and women.
Super G is short for Super Giant Slalom and is an alpine skiing event combining downhill skiing with navigation through slalom courses. The sport first become popular in the 1970s, and premiered as a World Cup event in 1982. It requires skill in both downhill skiing and slalom, and is perhaps one of the most intense alpine skiing contests. Significant speed and accuracy in turns are important, since missing a turn around a gate, made of two poles, immediately disqualifies the racers. There are some differences between Super G and slalom. The angle of a slalom course is less severe than that of downhill. Further, skiers must ski part of the race in a tucked or downhill position in order to increase speed.