Skiing (technically snow skiing) is the activity of
gliding over snow using skis (originally wooden planks, now usually
made from fiberglass or related composites) strapped to the feet with
ski bindings. Originally used primarily for transportation, snow skiing
evolved into a popular recreational and competitive activity during the
20th century. The sport consists of many variations, each of which fits
into one of the major categories of alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, or
telemark skiing.
Skiing was originally a practical way of getting
from one place to another in packed or crusted snow. In countries where
loose snow dominates, the indigenous population developed snowshoes
rather than skis. Today's cross-country and most other types of Nordic
skiing are the modern style reminiscent of ancient skiing.
The Norwegian Sondre Norheim from Morgedal is
called the "father of modern skiing". In the 19th century, Norheim
allegedly improved the bindings to better turn while skiing down hills.
One form of skiing was called Slalom (sla låm, Norwegian
dialect expression for a beginner's track) by Norheim and his
contemporaries. The skiing techniques of 19th century Morgedal was
reinvented as Telemark skiing or telemarking in the 1970s.
The invention of firmer bindings to anchor the
skier's feet to the ski, attributed to Austrian Mathias Zdarsky,
enabled the skier to turn more effectively and led to the development
of Alpine, or Downhill, skiing.
Shortly thereafter, in the early 20th century,
Austrian Hannes Schneider pioneered the idea of rotating the body to
help steer the skis. Soon this Arlberg technique, named for his home
region, spread around the world and helped make skiing a popular
recreational activity.
Skiing is a pastime which has brought together all
cultures of today. Many different types of skiing are popular,
especially in colder climates, and many types of competitive skiing
events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the
International Ski Federation (FIS), and other sporting organizations.
Skiing is most visible to the public during the Winter Olympic Games
where it is a major sport.
In skiing's traditional core regions in the snowy
parts of Scandinavia, as well as in places such as Alaska, both
recreational and competitive skiing is as likely to refer to the
cross-country variants as to the internationally downhill variants.
For most people worldwide, the term "skiing" refers
to alpine skiing where one visits a ski resort, purchases a lift
ticket, dons cold-weather clothing, skis, ski boots and ski poles, and
embarks on a chairlift, gondola lift, or other means of mechanical
uphill transport. Upon reaching the summit, the skier disembarks from
the ski lift and travels downhill, propelled by gravity, usually along
a marked route known as a piste, "run," "trail," or "slope". Most ski
resorts use mechanical equipment to "groom," or pack down and smooth,
the snow surface on certain ski trails. Grooming is normally associated
with trails of lesser difficulty. Off-piste skiing includes skiing in
unmarked or unpatrolled areas either within the ski resort's boundaries
or in the backcountry, frequently amongst trees ("glade skiing"),
usually in pursuit of fresh fallen snow, known as powder.
Skiing or snowboarding outside a ski resort's
boundaries, also known as out of bounds skiing, is illegal in some ski
resorts, due to the danger of avalanches on the un-patrolled areas; or
the cost of search-and-rescue for lost or overdue skiers. France and
Canada are two of the few countries generally permitting this activity.
In the United States, out of bounds skiing regulations vary by ski
area; many ski resorts prohibit it and some simply post warning signs
that skiers are leaving the patrolled ski area boundaries. 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.
Skiing techniques are difficult to master, and
accordingly there are ski schools that teach everything from the basics
of turning and stopping safely to more advanced carving, racing, mogul
or "bump" skiing and newer freestyle techniques. There are two primary
types of downhill skiing -- "telemark" and "alpine." Telemark 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 venue, speed and technical difficulty
associated with the sport can lead to collisions, accidents,
hypothermia and other injury or illness, occasionally including death.
Regional Ski Patrol 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.
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.
In addition to its role in recreation and sport,
skiing is also used as a means of transport by the military, and many
armies train troops for ski warfare. Ski troops played a key role in
retaining Finnish independence from Russia during the Winter War, and
from Germany during the Lapland War, although the use of ski troops was
recorded by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus in the 13th century.
The sport of Biathlon was developed from military skiing patrols.
Another type of skiing called Jib skiing or New
freestyle is a new style of skiing that started in the late 1990s. In
this type of skiing, skiers use jumps also called kickers,or rails to
do urban style aerial tricks.
