SKIING IS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE
History
Skiing was a prehistoric activity. The oldest known skis were discovered in Russia. Skis and snowshoes were first invented to cross swamps and marshes in the winter when they froze. Modern skiing has its beginnings in the Scandinavian countries. However, some old drawings found on the wall in certain regions of China show the use of skis long before the Scandinavian countries.
By the 18th century, units of the Swedish Army trained and competed on skis. Many veterans, especially of World War II, were very active in promoting this sport after returning to civilian life. Norwegian and Swedish military infantry organized the first skiing exercises and races. Military races and exercises were organized including rough terrain, downhill skiing, and 3 km cross-country with a military backpack with full equipment.
What Is Skiing?
The word ski comes from the Old Norse word skíð which means “cleft wood”, “stick of wood” or “ski”. Skiing is a winter sport, or recreation, in which someone uses skis to glide on snow down a mountain, by the use of a pair of long, flat runners called skis, are attached or bound to shoes or boots. Today, skiing is extremely popular as a recreational sport. Many modern ski centers have equipped and meet the needs of a large number of skiers.
Types
There are plenty of different types of skiing.
Alpine or downhill
Of all the different types of skiing, this is the most popular and is what most people know. It is a type of skiing in ski resorts. There are groomed trails that are marked and graded by difficulty. They are equipped with ski lifts, chairlifts, and cable cars that take you to the top of the mountain. Downhill skiers wear hard plastic studded boots with fixed heels mounted on skis.
Cross-country
It is a type of skiing in which the skiers do not use ski lifts, but ski the mountains themselves. But here they don’t ski on such steep slopes as the downhill ones. Cross-country skiing uses a soft boot and people do not attach the heel to the ski. The skis are light and designed for self-propelled trips on different terrains, not only on hills. Cross-country skiing is a cheaper option because you don’t spend money on ski passes. It is also a much harder aerobic activity. There are two types of cross-country techniques: classic and skate. The classic technique follows a movement pattern similar to walking or running.
Freestyle
This is now a competitive sport. This type of skiing is generally about turns, tricks, and air. Athletes compete in a variety of disciplines. It includes aerials (jumps), acro (choreographed routine), moguls (they ski and jump bumps on slopes), big air (flips, spins, and different positions in the air), and double moguls (two head-to-head competitors of the tycoons).
Off-piste
The name itself says that this is skiing from the groomed trail on pristine snow. This is very dangerous and requires fairly advanced skills. The term off-piste is commonly used to describe terrain that is off the groomed trails.
Telemark
Similar to alpine skiing, skiers must make their way to the bottom of the mountain. But these skiers are daring athletes. They have skis that do not hook on the heel which makes them advantageous on steep and flat slopes. This allows the skier much more flexibility and efficiency.
Adaptive
This sport allows those with physical disabilities to participate in skiing as well as other people using different adaptive equipment. Adaptive skiing is also fun, exciting, and open to people with almost any disability. This way, everyone can have a blast on the slopes. Most ski resorts have facilities for adaptive skiers, but make sure you check ahead of time before heading out on your ski holiday.
Snowboarding
This isn’t actually a type of skiing, but it’s worth mentioning here because it’s a lot of fun. Snowboarding is a recreational and competitive activity in the same fashion. It involves standing on one board, not two skis. Many people find it easier to learn to snowboard than to ski.