Skiing

Skis have been around for a while, but they have changed through the years. The oldest skis, found in bogs in Sweden and Finland, are believed to be four to five thousand years old. On this webpage you will find equipment used for skiing, styles of skiing, famous skiers, ways to stop, and how to ride a chair lift.

	To ski you will need two skis with bindings, which should firmly hold your boots, and ski poles. A few things that affect the size of your skis and ski poles are the type of skiing you will be doing and how tall you are. Additionally you may want to wear goggles so snow does not get in your eyes.
		Downhill racing and slaloms, races that follow a winding course between gates, are Alpine events. Alpine boots have flat, stiff soles to help maintain precise control of the skis. Alpine skiers also usually use a light ski pole of metal tubing.
		Freestyle skiing is the newest of the skiing types. It focuses on acrobatics and includes three events: acro (also called ballet), aerials, and moguls.
		Nordic skiing is also called classic skiing. It is comprised of cross-country skiing, which includes a relay race, and ski-jumping. Unlike freestyle and Alpine ski boots, Nordic boots are usually lighters and more flexible with a binding that allows the heel to be raised.
	In 2006, Julia Mancuso won first place in the Olympics in Turin for the giant slalom for women. The winner of the men’s giant slalom was Austrian Benjamin Raich.
		The first way to stop is referred to as the pizza or snowplow. As you are going downhill you try to have the front of the skis touch, but you do not actually want them to touch. The result is that your two skis will have the front slanted inwards toward each other and you should slow down.
		The hockey stop is another form of slowing down and stopping. As you are skiing downhill, you suddenly turn both feet in the same direction against the slope of the hill.
		To ride a chair lift wearing skis is easier than wearing a snowboard. Unlike with a snowboard, skiers have two poles they can use to help them move and gain momentum. The skier can push himself to the chair lift to ride.