The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2005 were held from January 28 to February 13 in Bormio, Italy.

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).

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.