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Skiing is the human 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.
Skiing
Many different types of skiing are popular, especially in colder climes, and many types of competitive skiing events are
recognized by the International Olympic
Committee (IOC), the International Ski
Federation (FIS), and other sporting organizations.
In skiing's traditional core regions in the snowy parts of Scandinavia, both recreational and competitive skiing is as likely
to refer to the cross-country variants as to the
internationally more well-known downhill variants.
For many people, "skiing" means recreational downhill skiing in which 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 mechanical method of uphill propulsion. Upon reaching the
summit, the skier disembarks from the ski lift and travels downhill, propelled by gravity. One should not attempt this unless one has been to ski
school or otherwise learned how to turn and stop safely. If this is not the case, one's trajectory is likely to become
uncontrollable and one's speed excessive, attenuated only by stationary objects such as trees.
At this juncture, the non-skier might ponder the question of "Why do it do it all then?" Of course there are many possible
answers to such a question, perhaps as many as there are skiers, but a good simple answer might be "It feels good", kind of like
flying. Of course, there is some possibility of danger but curiously, this is also part of the appeal of the sport; it is, after
all, the fastest means of land transport possible without mechanical assistance. It is possible to achieve a union of the mind
and the body by practicing this sport where the mind trusts the body to perform in an exceptional manner and the body trusts the
mind not lead it off a cliff. A sense of harmony and of peak experience can result resulting in a feeling of wholeness of
self.
In addition to their 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.
Skiing was pronounced "she-ing" at the start of the 20th century, after
the Norwegian pronunciation, and was usually written "ski-ing".
For the origins and development of skiing, see the History of
skiing.
Skiing Topics
Types of skiing
Turning Techniques
- Stem techniques
- The Snowplough - (also known as the wedge) - see snowplough turn
- The Snowplough turn - (also known as the wedge turn or
stem turn)
- The Stem Christie
- Parallel turn
- Telemark turn
Equipment
Competition Events
Alpine Events
Nordic Events
Skiing Organisations
International organisations:
National organisations:
Ski Safety
Ski Lifts
Other
Health and Injuries
Related Sports
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