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Snow Skiing
by Walter Silten
http://www.skiingaz.com
Skiing is the activity of gliding over snow on skis, which
were originally wooden planks, but are now fashioned from
fiberglass and or a related composite. Skis are strapped to
the feet with ski bindings that attach to ski boots. At
first used primarily for transportation, skiing evolved
into a popular recreational and competitive activity.
Bindings were the invention of a Norwegian man named
Sondre Norheim, he's also called the "father of skiing."
Sondre and his friends also called down hill skiing
"slalom," but today it's called Telemark skiing. Later, an
Austrian man named Matthias Zdarsky, invented stronger
bindings for skiers feet and eventually downhill skiing was
invented.
Most skiing done in this country is done at ski resorts for
people who want to vacation where its cold. The people
staying there either own their own ski equipment or they
can rent them from the resort. Ski-lifts are also part of
ski resorts and these carry all skiers to the top of a hill
so they can ski back down. Resorts also mark their routes
for skiers that let them know how steep the hill is.
Resorts have marked routes and if you're not a used to
skiing then it is probably a good idea to stick to the
routes known as runs, trails or slops. Each run has a name
and is rated according to the level of difficulty, green
circles means the slope is gentle and used by beginners,
also fondly known as "bunny slopes." Blue squares are for
medium skiers and black diamond...well, just the word black
should say it all but just in case, these slopes are for
expert skiers and can be very steep.
Downhill skiing that does not take place on established
slopes is known as "back-country skiing." The extremely
adventurous engage in heli-skiing, in which a helicopter
delivers skiers to a mountain summit and they proceed to
ski down. Cross-country skiing uses a narrower ski and
bindings that allow the heel to raise, which enables the
skier to ascend slopes. Cross-country skiing does not take
place at resorts but on established trails with gradual
slopes in the backcountry. The International Olympic
Committee (IOC), the International Ski Federation (FIS),
and other organizations regularly hold skiing competitions
in many forms of skiing. Competitive skiing is most visible
during the Winter Olympic Games, in which it is a major
sport.
Skiing is not only for the wealthy, like some may think. It
has even spawned a culture of "ski bums," where all these
people do is ski all during the season. When season is over
they look for menial jobs to get by until the next ski
season rolls around. Skiing is a fast and exhilarating
sport and thousands of people flood the slopes yearly and
as long as there is snow on the slopes, skiers will be
skiing down them.
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