BRIEF HISTORY

THE HISTORY OF SKIING TRACES ALL THE WAY BACK TO ANCIENT TIMES, WITH
ROCK PAINTINGS AND SETS OF SKIS PRESERVED IN BOGS DATING BACK TO THE
PERIOD BETWEEN 8000 - 6000 BC
The first community believed to have skied were the ancestors of the Sami, the only
indigenous people to Scandinavia.
SHORT TIMELINE OF SKIIS
1880s: The first hickory skis were produced in Norway. Modern carbon and steel tools
made it possible to shape the extremely tough and hard hickory. This made it
possible to produce even thinner, lighter skis with better flex. The toughness also
resisted dings and scars from the bases hitting rocks. Hickory was imported at
great expense from the United States. This did not escape the attention of
Norwegian immigrants in the upper Midwest (Wisconsin and Minnesota) and soon
much of the early ski making industry moved to the US.
1928: The steel edge was invented by Rudolph Lettner of Salzburg, Austria. This gave
skis much better grip on hard snow while still allowing the wood to flex naturally.
Durability was poor in the early years, (the screws tended to fall out) forcing skiers
to carry spare edges.
BRIEF HISTORY
1980s: The widespread distribution of ski films, pioneered by Warren Miller, and the
growth of the ski vacation industry. Skiing became the primary industry in the
mountain communities of the Western U.S.
1990S: THE REVOLUTION OF THE SHAPED SKI, MAKING TURNING THE SKI MUCH EASIER. WIDESPREAD
INSTALLATION OF HIGH-SPEED DETACHABLE CHAIRLIFTS.

MODERN SKI TECHNOLOGY

2000s to present: the revolution of the fat, wide ski, making skiing in deep snow much
easier.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT'S OF SKIING

1. SKIIS 2. SKIS BOOTS & BINDING

- which may have skins applied or be textured - footwear used in skiing to provide a way to
for uphill traction or ax applied for minimizing attach the skier to skis using ski bindings.
sliding friction. Twin-tip skis are designed move
forwards or backwards.
3. SKI POLES
- also referred to as poles (in North America) or
sticks (UK), are used by skiers for balance
and propulsion.[1] Modern ski poles are
most commonly made from aluminum and
carbon fiber, though materials such as
bamboo are still used. Poles are used in
alpine skiing, freestyle skiing (with the
exception of aerials), and cross-country
skiing. Ski jumpers do not use poles.
4. SKI HELMETS
- a helmet specifically designed and constructed for
winter sports. Use was rare until about 2000, but by
about 2010 the great majority of skiers and
snowboarders in the US and Europe wear
helmets.[1] Helmets are available in many styles,
and typically consist of a hard plastic/resin shell
with inner padding. Modern ski helmets may
include many additional features such as vents,
earmuffs, headphones, goggle mounts, and camera
mounts.
5. SKI SUIT
- a suit made to be worn over the rest of the
clothes when skiing or snowboarding.[1] A
ski suit made for more casual winter wear
outdoors may also be called a snowsuit and
are often used by children as everyday
outerwear in the winter season.[Some suits
are specifically made for snowboarders but
most are used by either skiers or
snowboarders regardless of the style.
6. SKI GOGGLES
- Goggles, or safety glasses, are forms of protective eyewear
that usually enclose or protect the area surrounding the eye
in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from
striking the eyes. They are used in chemistry laboratories
and in woodworking. They are often used in snow sports
as well, and in swimming. Goggles are often worn when
using power tools such as drills or chainsaws to prevent
flying particles from damaging the eyes. Many types of
goggles are available as prescription goggles for those
with vision problems.
7. S K I I N G G L O V E S

-A glove (Middle English from Old English golf)

is a garment covering the whole hand.
Gloves usually have separate sheaths or
openings for each finger and the thumb.
RULES
 RULES
Rule 1: Respect for others
A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.

Rule 2: Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding

A skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the
prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic.

Rule 3: Choice of route

A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.

Rule 4: Overtaking
A skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above or below and to the right or to the left provided that he leaves enough
space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.

Rule 5: Entering, starting and moving upwards

A skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after stopping or moving upwards on the slopes must look up and down the slopes that
he can do so without endangering himself or others.

Rule 6: Stopping on the piste

Unless absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in
such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.

Rule 7: Climbing and descending on foot

A skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste.

Rule 8: Respect for signs and markings

A skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.

Rule 9: Assistance
At accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist.

Rule 10: Identification

Every skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.
 SKIING TERMINOLOGY

Alpine Skiing
The most common type of skiing, where the both the heel and toe of a ski boot are firmly secured to a ski. The type of skiing
that this site is about.
Freestyle
A style of skiing/snowboarding that is based strongly on performing tricks, jumping with spins and grabs, and riding rails.
Free ride
A style of skiing/snowboarding that is based strongly on faster and more aggressive skiing/riding, on piste and off-piste.
All-Mountain
A style of skiing/snowboarding that covers all types of skiing/riding. It is a general term that is used for skiing/riding a bit of
everything without specializing in anything.
Heli-Skiing
Skiing where a helicopter takes people to the top of the mountain. Used to go to out of the way off-piste/backcountry routes.
Slope
An area of snow that has a gradient.
Gradient
The angle of which a surface points downwards at.
Traverse
To travel across a slope at a right angle to its gradient.
Switch / Fakie
Skiing/riding backwards. For skiing this means backwards along the skis, for snowboarding it means in the direction along the
board that is not set up as forwards.
Fall Line
An imaginary line in the steepest direction of the slope. i.e. the direction a ball would go if it was dropped and fell down the slope. In many
graphics on this site the direction of the fall line is shown by a darker shaded arrow in the snow.
Slant
A gradient that is not in the direction of something's length. For a piste/trail, this is where the piste/trail goes in one direction, but the slope
of the snow goes off towards one side.
Snowplough / Snowplow
The position that the skis are in when the front tips are close together, and the backs are further apart, making a inverted "V" shape. See
the Snowplough page.
Ollie
A jump/hop that can be done on the flat. The skier/boarders weight is thrown to the back of the skis/board so that the skis/board bend
and the nose comes into the air. The skier/boarder then throws their weight upwards and forwards springing off of the back of their
skis/board and lifting themselves into the air. See the Jumping page.
Downhill Ski
The ski that is on the downhill side as you go across a slope.
Uphill Ski
The ski that is on the uphill side as you go across a slope.
Outside ski
The ski that is on the outside of a turn.
Inside Ski
The ski on the inside of a turn.
Ski Tips
The front ends of the skis.
Uphill Edge
The edge of a ski that is on the uphill side of a slope, when a ski is pointing at least partly across a slope.
Downhill Edge
The edge of a ski that is on the downhill side of a slope, when a ski is pointing at least partly across a slope.

Inside Edges
The edges on the skis that are on the inside of a turn, or in the inside of a snow plough.
Leading Edge
The edge on a ski or snowboard that is in front with respect to the direction of travel.
Trailing Edge
The edge on a ski or snowboard that is at the back with respect to the direction of travel.