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{{short description|Recreational activity and sport using snow skis}}
{{worldwide}}
{{other uses|Skiing (disambiguation)|Water skiing|Skier (cricket)}}
{{cleanup-rewrite}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
].]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
] in ], ].]]
]
'''Skiing''' is the use of ]s to glide on ] for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive ]. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the ] (IOC), and the ] (FIS).


{{TOC limit|2}}
:''This article is about snow skiing. For water skiing, see ]. For other related articles, see ]''

'''Snow skiing''' is a group of sports utilizing ]s as primary equipment. Skis are used in conjunctions with ] that connect to the ski with use of a ]. Although ] shares the general characteristics of skiing sports, it evolved from ] and ] and so is not considered a type of skiing.

Skiing can be grouped into two general categories. ] is the oldest category and includes sport that evolved from skiing as done in ]. Nordic style ] attach at the toes of the skier's ]s, but not at the heels. ] includes sports that evolved from skiing as done in the ]. Alpine bindings attach at both the toe and the heel of the skier's ]. As with many disciplines, such as ], there is some crossover. However, binding style and history tend to dictate whether a style is considered Nordic or Alpine. Thus, in view of its lack of a locking heel, and its roots in ], ], ] is generally considered a Nordic discipline.


==History== ==History==
{{Main|History of skiing}} {{Main|History of skiing}}
]
] skier as seen by ]]]
Skiing has a history of almost five millennia.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Formenti |display-authors=etal |title=Human locomotion on snow: determinants of economy and speed of skiing across the ages|journal=Proceedings. Biological Sciences |volume=272 |issue=1572 |pages=1561–1569 |date=2005|pmc=1559840 |pmid=16048771 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2005.3121 }}</ref> Although modern skiing has evolved from beginnings in ], it may have been practiced more than 100 centuries ago in the ], according to an interpretation of ancient paintings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ancient paintings suggest China invented skiing|work=China View|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|date=25 January 2006|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/25/content_4098439.htm|access-date=2015-01-27|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329044654/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/25/content_4098439.htm|archive-date=29 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Marquand|first=Edward|title=Before Scandinavia: These could be the first skiers|work=]|date=15 March 2006|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0315/p01s01-woap.html|access-date=8 March 2015|archive-date=9 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009125303/https://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0315/p01s01-woap.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, this continues to be debated.<ref>{{cite web|last=Krichko|first=Kade|title=China's Stone Age Skiers and History's Harsh Lessons|work=]|date=19 April 2017|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/sports/skiing/skiing-china-cave-paintings.html|access-date=9 May 2020|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528200711/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/sports/skiing/skiing-china-cave-paintings.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Larsen|first=Nils|title=Origin Story: Where did skiing begin?|work=International Skiing History Association|date=12 June 2017|url=https://www.skiinghistory.org/news/origin-story-where-did-skiing-begin|access-date=9 May 2020|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502032612/https://www.skiinghistory.org/news/origin-story-where-did-skiing-begin|url-status=live}}</ref>


The word "ski" comes from the ] word "skíð" which means to "split piece of wood or firewood".<ref>Caprona, Yann de: ''Norsk etymologisk ordbok''. Oslo: Kagge forlag, 2014. {{ISBN|9788248910541}}.</ref>
Skiing was originally a practical way of getting from one place to another in packed or crusted snow. In Norse Myth, skiing was invented by Skadi, the snowshoe goddess.<ref>Kevin Crossley-Holland, The Norse Myths. Pantheon Books, New York. 1980. Page 195</ref> The word "ski" entered the English language from Norwegian in 1890. Previously, English speakers considered skiing to be a type of snowshoeing. In regions where loose snow dominates, the indigenous population developed ]s that did not slide across the snow, rather than skis which do{{Fact|date=June 2007}}. Today's ] and most other types of ] are the modern style reminiscent of ancient skiing.


Asymmetrical skis were used in northern Finland and Sweden until at least the late 19th century. On one foot, the skier wore a long straight non-arching ski for sliding, and a shorter ski was worn on the other foot for kicking. The underside of the short ski was either plain or covered with animal skin to aid this use, while the long ski supporting the weight of the skier was treated with animal fat in a similar manner to modern ]ing.
The Norwegian ] from ] is called the "father of modern skiing". In the ], Norheim allegedly improved the ] to better turn while skiing down hills. One form of skiing was called ] (''sla låm'', Norwegian dialect expression for a beginner's track) by Norheim and his contemporaries. The skiing techniques of 19th century Morgedal were reinvented as ] or ""telemarking" in the 1970s.


Early skiers used one long pole or spear. The first description of a skier with two ]s dates to 1741.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hergstrom|first=P|title=Beschreibung von dem unter schwedischer Krone gehörigen Lappland|year=1748|publisher=von Rother|location=Leipzig}}</ref>
The invention of firmer bindings to anchor the skier's feet to the ski, attributed to ]n ], enabled the skier to turn more effectively and led to the development of ], or ], skiing.


Troops in continental Europe were equipped with skis by 1747,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000085/17470620/014/0002|title=Newcastle Courant|access-date=29 September 2019}}{{subscription required|via=The British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> and into the 21st century many nations continue to equip and train specialized troops for ].
Shortly thereafter, in the early ], Austrian ] pioneered the idea of the ], named for his home region. It spread around the world and helped make skiing a popular recreational activity.


Skiing was primarily used for transport until the mid-19th century but, since then, it has also become a recreation and sport.<ref name=Saur>Saur, Lasse (1999): ''Norske ski - til glede og besvær.'' Research report, Høgskolen i Finnmark.</ref> Military ski races were held in Norway during the 18th century,<ref>Bergsland, Einar (1946): På ski. Oslo: Aschehoug.</ref> and ] was studied in the late 18th century.<ref>{{cite web|title=How concern for the national health and military preparedness led France to build the infrastructure for Chamonix, 1924|url=https://skiinghistory.org/news/french-connection-first-winter-games|date=30 January 2014|author=E. John B. Allen|work=International Skiing History Association|access-date=17 July 2014|archive-date=25 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725112252/https://skiinghistory.org/news/french-connection-first-winter-games|url-status=live}}</ref> As equipment evolved and ]s were developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two main genres of skiing emerged—] and ]. The main difference between the two is the type of ] (the way in which the ]s are attached to the skis).
The biomechanical principles of alpine skiing were described in 1985 by Georg Kassat, professor at Münster University


==Types of skiing== ==Types==
===Alpine===
{{Main|Alpine skiing}}
Also called "downhill skiing", Alpine skiing typically takes place on a ] at a ]. It is characterized by fixed-heel bindings that attach at both the toe and the heel of the skier's boot. ]s, including ], bring skiers up the slope. ] can be accessed by ], ], ] and ]. Facilities at resorts can include ], ], and ] under the supervision of the ] and the ]. Alpine skiing branched off from the older Nordic type of skiing around the 1920s when the advent of ]s meant that it was no longer necessary to climb back uphill. Alpine equipment has specialized to the point where it can now only be used with the help of lifts. Alpine Touring setups use specialized bindings which are switchable between locked and free-heel modes. ] are temporarily attached to the bottom of alpine skis to give them traction on snow. This permits Nordic style uphill and back-country travel on alpine skis. For downhill travel, the heels are locked and the skins are removed.


===Nordic===
Many different types of skiing are popular, especially in colder climates, and many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the ] (IOC), the ] (FIS), and other sporting organizations. Skiing is most visible to the public during the ] where it is a major sport.
] on ], Norway]]
{{Main|Nordic skiing}}
The Nordic disciplines include ] and ], which both use bindings that attach at the toes of the skier's boots but not at the heels. Cross-country skiing may be practiced on groomed trails or in undeveloped ] areas. Ski jumping is practiced in certain areas that are reserved exclusively for ski jumping.


===Telemark===
In skiing's traditional core regions in the snowy parts of ], as well as in places such as ], both recreational and competitive skiing is as likely to refer to the ] variants as to the internationally ] variants.
{{Main|Telemark skiing}}
Telemark skiing is a ski turning technique and FIS-sanctioned discipline, which is named after the Telemark region of Norway. It uses equipment similar to Nordic skiing, where the ski bindings are attached only at the toes of the ski boots, allowing the skier's heel to be raised throughout the turn. However, the skis themselves are often the same width as Alpine skis.


==Competition==
]
The following skiing disciplines are sanctioned by the ]. Many have their own world cups and are included in the ].
]
* ] – Encompasses a variety of formats for ] races over courses of varying lengths. Races occur on ], groomed courses designed to support classic (in-track) and free-style events, where skate skiing may be employed. The main competitions are the ] and the ] (held only in odd-numbered years), and various cross-country skiing events have been incorporated into the Winter Olympics since its inception in ]. The discipline also incorporates: cross-country ] events, sanctioned by the ]; cross-country ] events, sanctioned by the ]; and ], a combination of cross-country skiing and ] ]. ] and ] are both included in the ].
Skiing techniques are difficult to master, and accordingly there are ]s that teach everything from the basics of turning and stopping safely to more advanced carving, racing, ] or "bump" skiing and newer freestyle techniques. There are two primary types of downhill skiing -- "telemark" and "alpine."
* ] – Contested at the ], the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (odd-numbered years only), the ], and the ]. Ski jumping has also been a regular Olympic discipline at every Winter Games since 1924.
* ] – A combination of cross-country skiing and ski jumping, this discipline is contested at the ], the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (odd-numbered years only), and at the Winter Olympics.
* ] – Includes ], ], ], ] (super-G), and ] events. There are also ] events where the competitors must complete one run of each event, for example; the Super Combined event consists of one run of super-G and one run of slalom skiing. The dual slalom event, where racers ski head-to-head, was invented in 1941 and has been a competitive event since 1960.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lizza|first=Chris I.|date=1997|title=The first dual slalom duel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qVgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42|journal=Skiing Heritage Journal|language=en|publisher=International Skiing History Association|volume=10|issue=3|pages=42|issn=1082-2895}}</ref> Alpine skiing is contested at the ], the ] (held only in odd-numbered years), and the Winter Olympics. ] is contested at the ] (odd-numbered years) and the Winter Paralympics.
* ] – Dating from 1898, with official records beginning in 1932 with an {{convert|89|mi/h|km/h|adj=on}} run by Leo Gasperi, this became an FIS discipline in the 1960s. It is contested at the FIS Speed Ski World Cup, and was demonstrated at the ] in ].<ref>{{cite book|last=Lipsyte|first=Robert|editor-last=Vizard|editor-first=Frank|title=Why a Curveball Curves: The Incredible Science of Sports|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.|series=Popular mechanics|date=2009|pages=224|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-q9M4pe3kmUC&pg=PA173|isbn= 9781588167941}}</ref>
* ] – Includes ], ], ], ], and ]. The main freestyle competitions are the ] and the ] (held in odd-numbered years). The discipline was first demonstrated at the ] and was added to the Olympic programme in 1992. It became an Olympic sport in the ] when the ] and ] events were introduced.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/freestyle-skiing|title=Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympic Sport|date=2019-11-26|website=International Olympic Committee|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05|archive-date=9 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109021757/https://www.olympic.org/freestyle-skiing|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ] – Named after the Telemark region of Norway, this discipline combines elements of Alpine and Nordic skiing. A relatively new competitive sport, Telemark racing is contested at the FIS Telemark World Cup and the FIS Telemark World Championships.
* ] – Originally developed as an alpine skiing training method, skiing on grass has become established as a skiing discipline in its own right. It is contested at the FIS Grass Skiing World Cup and the FIS Grass Ski World Championships.


==Equipment==
For beginning skiers learning under a trained instructor, skiing speeds are low, the terrain is not steep and is often well-manicured, and the risks are relatively low. For extreme skiers, testing their expert abilities against ever more challenging terrain, the risks may be much higher.
]
Equipment used in skiing includes:
* ]s, which may have ] applied or be textured for uphill traction or ] applied for minimizing sliding friction. ]s are also designed to move forwards or backwards.
* ] and ]
* ]
* ]
* ]s
* ]
* ]
* ]


==Technique==
'''Alpine skiing:''' The term "skiing" commonly refers to ] where one visits a ], purchases a lift ticket, dons cold-weather clothing, ]s, ]s and sometimes ]s, and embarks on a ], ], or other means of mechanical uphill transport. Upon reaching the ], the skier disembarks from the ] and travels downhill, propelled by ], usually along a marked route known as a ], "run," "trail," or "slope". Most ski resorts use mechanical equipment to "groom," or pack down and smooth, the snow surface on certain ski trails.
Technique has evolved along with ski technology and ]. Early techniques included the ] turn, the ], the ], ], and ].


New parabolic designs like the ] have enabled the more modern ].
Alpine skiing developed in the ] beginning in 1889. In ], ] may have been the first person in the Alps to try skiing. Previous to this time, the predominate Alpine winter sport had been ].


==On other surfaces==
'''Alpine Freestyle:''' This kind of skiing could be called acrobatics on skis. Alpine freestyle was pioneered by ] in 1962. It developed in the 1970s into a style called ]. More recently Alpine freestyle has evolved into the current style called ] or ], a new style of skiing that started in the late 1990s. In this type of skiing, skiers use jumps also called ],or rails to do urban style aerial tricks.<ref name="espn">{{cite web | last = Taylor | first = Derek | title = Xspeak: Skiing | publisher = ESPN Internet Ventures | url = http://espn.go.com/extreme/winterx00/s/glossaryskiing.html | accessdate = 2007-04-12}}</ref>
Originally and primarily an outdoor ] on snow, skiing is also practiced on synthetic ], on ], ] and with ]s. With appropriate equipment, ] and ] are other alternatives which are not performed on snow.


==Gallery==
'''Back Country Skiing:''' Also called Nordic touring. In the Alps where skiers can easily ski from area to area, Randonée and backcountry skiing are indistinguishable. In North America however, where chairlifts either aren't allowed or are impractical for touring, skiers typically use Nordic style equipment which is more suitable for skiing up-hill. The heels of the bindings always remain free, unlike Randoneé bindings which can be locked down.
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
File:Wilmot-ski-racer-cmsc.jpg|Giant Slalom Ski Racer
File:Freestyle skiing jump2.jpg|] switch 720 mute grab
File:Calgary.jpg|A ski jumper using the ]
File:Priit Narusk at Tour de Ski.jpg|Cross country skiing—free-style or skate-skiing
File:Danplastic.jpg|Dry slope racing
File:Vail Veterans monoski.jpg|A skier with a disability on a ], using two outriggers.
</gallery>


== See also ==
'''Cross-Country Racing:'''
] takes its name from a type of ski race that is one third up, one third down, and one third flat. The name distinguishes it from other types of ski races and competition such as downhill racing, ] racing, and Nordic jumping. Cross-country races can be either freestyle or classic. In freestyle racing, any technique is allowed as long as it is human powered and on skis. In a classic race, skating techniques are prohibited.


'''Kite skiing and para-skiing''' * ]
Skiing done while being pulled or carried by a ], ], or ].

'''Military Skiing:''' In addition to its role in recreation and sport, skiing is also used as a means of transport by the ], and many armies train ]s for ]. Ski troops played a key role in retaining ] independence from ] during the ], and from ] during the ], although the use of ski troops was recorded by the ] historian ] in the ]. The sport of ] was developed from military skiing ]s.

'''Nordic Jumping:''' Also called ] and ]. A competition in which skiers slide down a ramp called a jump and attempt to go the furthest before landing on the ground. This is done with Nordic style skis, meaning that the heels of boot and binding are detached from the ski. The skis are much longer and wider than other types of skis and jumping is typically done without ski-poles.

'''Nordic Skiing:''' Also called ].
World wide, Nordic skiing may be the most popular form of skiing since it does not require a specially ski area. Typically after donning appropriate clothing, the skier goes outside and skis in a local park or even on a snowy street. Nordic skiing is the oldest form of skiing and was developed in ] as a way of traveling in the winter.

]s evacuating an injured skier from a ski area]]
'''Randonnée Skiing:''' ] is also called off-piste, ], and Alpine touring.
] skiing includes skiing in unmarked or unpatrolled areas either within the ]'s boundaries or in the ], frequently amongst trees ("]"), usually in pursuit of fresh fallen snow, known as ].

Randonnée skiers typically use Alpine style skis and boots but with bindings that can be released at the heel for easier movement on flat and uphill terrain. For traveling up-hill randonnée skiers often use skins, strips of fabric temporarily glued to the bottoms of the skis.

Skiing or snowboarding outside a ]'s boundaries, is known as ]. In most countries where skiing is popular - ], Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and ]- this is permitted. In the United States, ] is not permitted at some resorts. Regulations vary by ski area; many ski resorts prohibit it outright and some simply post warning signs that skiers are leaving the patrolled ski area boundaries.

In all regions, randonnée skiing is perfectly legal, provided the skier has not skied from a designated ski area after buying a ticket. Some areas do allow departure from the ski area while on skis, others do not. Normally, skiing out of bounds results in loss of the lift ticket and banishment from the ski area. On the other hand, skiing in a closed area is illegal and likely to land a skier in jail. In Europe and Canada randonnée skiing and skiing out of bounds as well as off-piste skiing and departing from/returning to ski areas is generally allowed.

However, lost or overdue backcountry travellers are usually held responsible for the cost of search-and-rescue service if uninsured. Backcountry skiers traveling in steep terrain prone to avalanches are encouraged to take avalanche training, travel with other experienced people, and carry special equipment for self-rescue. It is recommended that skiers make the local ski patrol aware of where they are going if they stray off-piste in case of avalanches or bad weather that could put skiers in danger.

'''Ski jøring''' ] is also called Euro-style ].
Skiing while being pulled by an animal(s), typically dogs or horses, or by snowmachine. Typically dogs or horses are used.

'''Telemark Skiing:''' ] skiers use flexible ski boots, either leather or plastic, and do not have their heels locked to the skis. Alpine skiers use stiffer plastic, non-flexible boots and have their heels locked to the skis with releaseable bindings.

The ], speed and technical difficulty associated with the sport can lead to collisions, accidents, ] and other injury or illness, occasionally including death. Regional ] organizations, such as the National Ski Patrol in the U.S., exist as a voluntary organization to provide guidance, help, medical assistance and emergency rescue to those in need of it.

==Skiing for people with disabilities==
]]]
Skiing for people with ] became popular after ] with the return of injured ]s.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} It is both a recreational ] and a ] open to those with any manner of cognitive and/or physical disabilities. Adaptations include the use of outriggers, ski tip retention devices, sit-skis like ]s and bi-skis, brightly colored guide bibs, ski guides, and inter-skier communication systems or audible clues for blind skiers.

Recreational skiing programs for people with disabilities exist at mountains across the globe. In the northeastern ], Maine Handicapped Skiing is one of the largest, operating at ] ski resort. Other New England resorts with adaptive skiing programs include: ], ], and ]. In the western part of the United States, the National Sports Center for the Disabled at ] near ] attracts both first-timers and world-class ] from ], ], and ].

Currently the ] (IPC) and the ] (FIS) sanction a number of regional, national, and international disabled skiing events, most notably a ] circuit, a ], and the ].

==Ski videos and movies==

{{main|Skiing and snowboarding on film and video}}

Skiing and snowboarding video and movies as a genre, emerged with such classics as ] Ski Flight, ] and ].

==Related sports==
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>
*{{cite news
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/05/fashion/thursdaystyles/05Skijoring.html?ex=1294117200&en=e7da8131172c9550&ei=5090
|title=Clip on Skis, Hitch Rover, and Go}} The New York Times, January 5, 2006
*{{cite news
|url=http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/01/06/travel/escapes/06kite.html?ex=1294203600&en=65bb20ea21c9a4b4&ei=5090
|title=Skiing Up the Slopes, Powered by the Wind}} The New York Times, January 6, 2006


==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Skiing}}


{{Winter Olympic sports}}
==See also==
{{Skiing}}
*]
{{Orienteering}}

==External links==
{{commons|Skiing|Skiing}}
*
* Directory of skiing related links
* A social network for backcountry skiers.


{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 05:02, 11 January 2025

Recreational activity and sport using snow skis For other uses, see Skiing (disambiguation), Water skiing, and Skier (cricket).

Alpine skiers

Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

History

Main article: History of skiing
Video demonstration of a variety of ski techniques used in the 1940s.

Skiing has a history of almost five millennia. Although modern skiing has evolved from beginnings in Scandinavia, it may have been practiced more than 100 centuries ago in the Altai Mountains, according to an interpretation of ancient paintings. However, this continues to be debated.

The word "ski" comes from the Old Norse word "skíð" which means to "split piece of wood or firewood".

Asymmetrical skis were used in northern Finland and Sweden until at least the late 19th century. On one foot, the skier wore a long straight non-arching ski for sliding, and a shorter ski was worn on the other foot for kicking. The underside of the short ski was either plain or covered with animal skin to aid this use, while the long ski supporting the weight of the skier was treated with animal fat in a similar manner to modern ski waxing.

Early skiers used one long pole or spear. The first description of a skier with two ski poles dates to 1741.

Troops in continental Europe were equipped with skis by 1747, and into the 21st century many nations continue to equip and train specialized troops for ski warfare.

Skiing was primarily used for transport until the mid-19th century but, since then, it has also become a recreation and sport. Military ski races were held in Norway during the 18th century, and ski warfare was studied in the late 18th century. As equipment evolved and ski lifts were developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two main genres of skiing emerged—Alpine (downhill) skiing and Nordic skiing. The main difference between the two is the type of ski binding (the way in which the ski boots are attached to the skis).

Types

Alpine

Main article: Alpine skiing

Also called "downhill skiing", Alpine skiing typically takes place on a piste at a ski resort. It is characterized by fixed-heel bindings that attach at both the toe and the heel of the skier's boot. Ski lifts, including chairlifts, bring skiers up the slope. Backcountry skiing can be accessed by helicopter, snowcat, hiking and snowmobile. Facilities at resorts can include night skiing, après-ski, and glade skiing under the supervision of the ski patrol and the ski school. Alpine skiing branched off from the older Nordic type of skiing around the 1920s when the advent of ski lifts meant that it was no longer necessary to climb back uphill. Alpine equipment has specialized to the point where it can now only be used with the help of lifts. Alpine Touring setups use specialized bindings which are switchable between locked and free-heel modes. Climbing skins are temporarily attached to the bottom of alpine skis to give them traction on snow. This permits Nordic style uphill and back-country travel on alpine skis. For downhill travel, the heels are locked and the skins are removed.

Nordic

Spring ski touring on Hardangervidda, Norway
Main article: Nordic skiing

The Nordic disciplines include cross-country skiing and ski jumping, which both use bindings that attach at the toes of the skier's boots but not at the heels. Cross-country skiing may be practiced on groomed trails or in undeveloped backcountry areas. Ski jumping is practiced in certain areas that are reserved exclusively for ski jumping.

Telemark

Main article: Telemark skiing

Telemark skiing is a ski turning technique and FIS-sanctioned discipline, which is named after the Telemark region of Norway. It uses equipment similar to Nordic skiing, where the ski bindings are attached only at the toes of the ski boots, allowing the skier's heel to be raised throughout the turn. However, the skis themselves are often the same width as Alpine skis.

Competition

The following skiing disciplines are sanctioned by the FIS. Many have their own world cups and are included in the Winter Olympic Games.

Equipment

Four groups of different ski types, from left to right:
1. Non-sidecut: cross-country, telemark and mountaineering 2. Parabolic
3. Twin-tip
4. Powder

Equipment used in skiing includes:

Technique

Technique has evolved along with ski technology and ski geometry. Early techniques included the telemark turn, the stem, the stem Christie, snowplough, and parallel turn.

New parabolic designs like the Elan SCX have enabled the more modern carve turn.

On other surfaces

Originally and primarily an outdoor winter sport on snow, skiing is also practiced on synthetic "dry" ski slopes, on sand, indoors and with ski simulators. With appropriate equipment, grass skiing and roller skiing are other alternatives which are not performed on snow.

Gallery

  • Giant Slalom Ski Racer Giant Slalom Ski Racer
  • Freestyle switch 720 mute grab Freestyle switch 720 mute grab
  • A ski jumper using the V-style A ski jumper using the V-style
  • Cross country skiing—free-style or skate-skiing Cross country skiing—free-style or skate-skiing
  • Dry slope racing Dry slope racing
  • A skier with a disability on a sit-ski, using two outriggers. A skier with a disability on a sit-ski, using two outriggers.

See also

References

  1. Formenti; et al. (2005). "Human locomotion on snow: determinants of economy and speed of skiing across the ages". Proceedings. Biological Sciences. 272 (1572): 1561–1569. doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3121. PMC 1559840. PMID 16048771.
  2. "Ancient paintings suggest China invented skiing". China View. Xinhua News Agency. 25 January 2006. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  3. Marquand, Edward (15 March 2006). "Before Scandinavia: These could be the first skiers". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  4. Krichko, Kade (19 April 2017). "China's Stone Age Skiers and History's Harsh Lessons". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  5. Larsen, Nils (12 June 2017). "Origin Story: Where did skiing begin?". International Skiing History Association. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  6. Caprona, Yann de: Norsk etymologisk ordbok. Oslo: Kagge forlag, 2014. ISBN 9788248910541.
  7. Hergstrom, P (1748). Beschreibung von dem unter schwedischer Krone gehörigen Lappland. Leipzig: von Rother.
  8. "Newcastle Courant". Retrieved 29 September 2019. – via The British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
  9. Saur, Lasse (1999): Norske ski - til glede og besvær. Research report, Høgskolen i Finnmark.
  10. Bergsland, Einar (1946): På ski. Oslo: Aschehoug.
  11. E. John B. Allen (30 January 2014). "How concern for the national health and military preparedness led France to build the infrastructure for Chamonix, 1924". International Skiing History Association. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  12. Lizza, Chris I. (1997). "The first dual slalom duel". Skiing Heritage Journal. 10 (3). International Skiing History Association: 42. ISSN 1082-2895.
  13. Lipsyte, Robert (2009). Vizard, Frank (ed.). Why a Curveball Curves: The Incredible Science of Sports. Popular mechanics. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 224. ISBN 9781588167941.
  14. "Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympic Sport". International Olympic Committee. 26 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2019.

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