Skiing (hobby)

Skiing is an outdoor sport, recreational activity, and mode of transport that involves using planks of wood or other materials affixed to one's feet to travel across snow-covered landscapes. In 1985, archeologists found a pair of what appeared to be hardwood skis near Lake Sindor, approximately eight hundred miles from the city of Moscow, dating to between 6300 and 5000 BCE. This evidence suggests that the invention of skis may have predated the wheel by as much as two millennia. While the Russian discovery is the earliest confirmed ski artifact, some evidence suggests that skis may have originated as early as 8000 BCE, as evidenced by rock art and artifacts that resemble ancient ski sticks found in other parts of Europe.

Skiing is first mentioned in ancient literature in writings from the seventh century CE in China, describing the habits of the tribes living in the northern mountainous regions. The English words "ski" and "skiing" seem to have derived from the Old Norse term skrida, which has been translated as "to slide." Others have suggested that "ski" comes from the Finnish word suksi, which is still the term used for "ski" in Finland.

Over centuries, skiing became common across Scandinavia and was used as a practical way to traverse snow-covered landscapes. In Sweden, Norway, Finland, and other Scandinavian countries, military regiments were trained in skiing in the Middle Ages, and ski training remained a part of Scandinavian military training until modern times. Norwegian major Jens Emahusen published the first military regulations on skiing in 1733, which is now recognized as one of the first instructional texts on skiing. In 1776, the Norwegian army organized the first known skiing competition, thus initiating skiing as a sport.

Skiing was imported to the United States in the 1860s, after the sport had taken hold in Canada through Scandinavian immigrants. The oldest skiing club in the United States was established in New Hampshire in 1872. Until the turn of the century, skiing competitions were primarily held by local ski clubs. In 1910, representatives from ten nations met for the First International Ski Commission in Oslo, Norway. This was one of the world's first international skiing competitions and gave rise to all international competition that followed.

In 1924, in Chamonix, France, the International Ski Federation (IFS) was formed among representatives of fourteen member nations. The IFS became the dominant regulatory and management organization for skiing and related sports into the twenty-first century. From January 24 to February 4, 1924, the IFS held the International Sports Week, which is now recognized as the first Winter Olympic Games.

Over the decades since 1924, the IFS and other skiing groups have contributed to the growth of the sport with a proliferation of local, national, and international competitions, the most prestigious of which remains the Winter Olympic Games, held every four years. Gradually, new techniques and methods have been added to the officially recognized list of skiing skills, including jumping techniques and different varieties of ski races.

Skis

• Cross-country skis -- narrower, thicker skis made for cross-country skiing, which involves gliding on skis across flatter surfaces
• Alpine (or downhill) skis -- often thought of as standard skis, wider, thinner alpine skis are made for descending steep surfaces
• Twin-tip skis -- manufactured with curved ends in the front and rear of the skis and used for various types of stunt skiing, including jumps, spins, and flips

Ski Poles

• Cross-country ski poles -- strong aluminum or composite poles that aid in producing forward momentum. The "basket" section at the bottom of the pole is wide to enable use in deeper snow.
• Alpine ski poles -- flexible aluminum or carbon composite poles that are thin and flexible. These are often made with a bend to reduce wind resistance when tucked against the skier's body.

Ski Boots

• Alpine ski boots -- attach at both the toe and the heel to bind the skier's legs to the skis. This type of attachment is necessary to control the skis during downhill runs. Alpine ski boots may be front-entry or back-entry boots, based on the location of the clasps that unhinge the boot. These designs differ in rigidity, and front-entry boots are typically preferred for performance skiing.
• Cross-country ski boots -- typically attach only at the toe leaving the heel free to move and thereby allow the gliding motion needed to ski across level surfaces.

Other Equipment

• Goggles
• Ski helmet
• Snow suit or ski jacket
• Thermal undergarments
• Moisture-absorbing socks
• First aid and safety kit
• Ski gloves

Techniques

Alpine skiing is the type of skiing most popular with hobbyists and recreational skiers. The basic technique is to use skis to navigate a downward descent on a ski slope. Alpine skiing uses thinner skis and flexible poles to reduce drag and resistance. The thinner skis used in alpine skiing are inappropriate for deep snow and are generally most effective on "groomed" slopes that have been prepared for skiing. There are several varieties of alpine skiing, including downhill racing and slalom, which combines racing with technical skills such as making fast turns and navigating short jumps.

Freestyle skiing is a popular type of downhill skiing that involves jumps and other "trick" maneuvers not used in general ski racing. Competitions in freestyle skiing are held in many countries, and the sport has been divided into numerous more specific events. Maneuvers performed in the air are often called "aerials." Many freestyle-skiing events feature courses with a variety of banks and jumps that contestants can use in creative ways to develop innovative tricks including flips, spins, and other aerial maneuvers.

Cross-country skiing is a variety of Nordic skiing that involves using skis to traverse relatively level terrain with only minor gradations in pitch. Some cross-country ski courses are short, ranging from one to two miles, while others may stretch for more than fifty miles and may take more than twenty-four hours to complete. Cross-country skiing is popular in areas where there are large, naturally occurring snowfields, such as in northern Europe and Canada. Cross-country skis are narrower, longer, and thicker than alpine skis to enable skiers to traverse deeper snow. In addition, cross-country ski boots typically attach at the toe, allowing skiers to lift their heel when pushing the ski forward and helping achieve the gliding or running motion needed to propel skis across relatively level surfaces.

Trends

In the winter of 2009–10, a number of popular alpine ski resorts introduced mobile phone or tablet applications that enabled skiers to check weather conditions, rent equipment, and complete other ski-related tasks online. Some application developers also created maps of ski slopes at various ski locations and tied in with global positioning technology to help prevent skiers from becoming lost. In addition, smartphone applications of this kind can be used to help emergency crews find lost or injured skiers who require assistance. Other apps are paired with sensors on the skis or the person to track metrics such as distance and turns.

In 2012, ski equipment manufacturer Recon released an augmented reality device called Heads Up Display (HUD) that allows the skier to view a variety of information displayed on a small screen in the bottom corner of his or her goggles. The HUD can calculate speed, direction, jump distance, and height in addition to providing skiers with information on weather conditions and the availability of ski lifts. Similarly, GoPro helmet cameras allow skiers to video record their adventures.

Environmentalism has become a core issue for ski resorts and skiers. Threatened by climate change, resorts sought to increase their energy efficiency and provide better service by installing higher-efficiency snow guns (some of them automated with sensors), improving artificial-snow storage, and offering shared buses to reduce visitors' emissions. A number adopted other green practices, such as composting or serving locally produced food. Manufacturers have also begun offering ecofriendlier gear for skiers of all types, often made of recycled or natural materials like wool or meeting ethical standards.

Backcountry skiing has regained popularity as well. In backcountry skiing, alpine skiers wear alpine-touring boots and bindings and use traction devices known as "skins" to climb up ungroomed mountains and then ski down them, rather than using lifts on groomed mountains. Some resorts allow uphill travel and provide guides or lessons in this technique. Backcountry skiing in the wild is free of charge but comes with risks such as avalanches. At the other end of the spectrum, private members-only ski clubs allow exclusive access to certain mountains and may even rent out entire mountains for substantial fees.

Millennials have joined alpine skiing in smaller numbers than past generations, and those that have participate less frequently. In the face of that trend, resorts have offered discounted learn-to-ski programs and made efforts to increase access, particularly for minorities and those with disabilities. Advances in bi skis, mono skis, and prostheses have also improved the experience for leg amputees.

Skiing for Fun vs. Profit

Skiing is a recreational activity practiced by thousands of individuals around the world for entertainment, exercise, and transport. Some advanced skiers profit from their activity by teaching skiing lessons at ski resorts or through one of the hundreds of ski clubs around the world.

Professional skiers earn money by entering in ski competitions held at the local, national, and international levels. Skiers may also receive funding by endorsing products manufactured by ski equipment companies or by appearing in advertisements and commercials for skiing events or equipment. Professionals without significant endorsement contracts earn about thirty thousand dollars per year; high-performers and those with endorsement contracts can earn several hundred thousand a year. Instructors at ski resorts and other locations typically earn between $10 and $26 per hour for lessons and instructional programs.

Learning More

Organizations

American Cross Country Skiers <https://www.xcskiworld.com>

United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association <https://www.uscsa.com>

United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association <https://usasa.org>

US Ski and Snowboard Association <https://usskiandsnowboard.org>

Books

Allen, E. John B. The Culture and Sport of Skiing. Amherst: U of Massachusetts P, 2007. Print.

Fry, John. The Story of Modern Skiing. Lebanon: UP of New England, 2006. Print.

Heckelman, Martin. The New Guide to Skiing. New York: Norton, 2001. Print.

Hindman, Steve. Cross Country Skiing: Building Skills for Fun and Fitness. Seattle: Mountaineers, 2005. Print.

Huntford, Roland. Two Planks and a Passion: The Dramatic History of Skiing. New York: Continuum, 2008. Print.

Kipp, Ronald W. Alpine Skiing. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 2011. Print.

Muller, Erich. Science and Skiing V. Indianapolis: Meyer and Meyer Sport, 2012. Print.

Rusko, Heikki. Cross Country Skiing: Olympic Handbook of Sports Medicine. New York: Wiley, 2010. Print.