AP PHOTOS: Deep breaths, stretches, tension for skiers before they race at the world championships

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United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin warms up ahead of a women’s slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Switzerland’s Michelle Gisin gets ready to start an alpine ski, women’s World Championship downhill training, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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New Zealand’s Alice Robinson gets ready to start an alpine ski, women’s World Championship downhill training, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Austria’s Marco Schwarz concentrates ahead of a men’s giant slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Austria’s Katharina Truppe, left, is encouraged by a team member at the starting gate of a women’s slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Albania’s Lara Colturi, right, plays a hand game with a team member to ease the tension at the starting gate of a women’s slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Austria’s Marco Schwarz concentrates at the starting gate of a men’s giant slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Italy’s Luca De Aliprandini concentrates at the starting gate of a men’s giant slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin concentrates at the starting gate of a women’s slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund breathes ahead of a women’s giant slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic concentrates at the starting gate a women’s giant slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Canada’s James Crawford concentrates ahead of a men’s downhill training, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic concentrates ahead of a women’s giant slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Italy’s Sofia Goggia concentrates at the starting gate of a women’s giant slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Italy’s Marta Bassino gets ready to start an alpine ski, women’s World Championship downhill training, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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United States’ River Radamus concentrates at the starting gate of a men’s giant slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Switzerland’s Camille Rast concentrates at the starting gate of a women’s slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Switzerland’s Melanie Meillard concentrates at the starting gate of a women’s slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Norway’s Adrian Smiseth Sejersted concentrates ahead of a men’s giant slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

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Sweden’s Sara Hector adjusts her helmet at the starting gate of a women’s slalom, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — Stretching. Tension. Deep breaths. Focus.

These are what skiers deal with and try to do just before they enter the starting gate — along with last-second equipment adjustments.

Take a look at skiers in their final moments before racing during the Alpine skiing world championships.

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AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing