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Snow skiing is the most popular form of skiing that involves traveling over snow-covered surfaces with the help of skis. Snow skiing originated several centuries ago in Scandinavia, which evolved into a major recreational and competitive sport in the early 19th century.

There are two major types of skiing, which are:

Nordic Skiing : In this type of skiing the heels of the skier's boots does not touch the skis, the bindings to the skis are only in the toes. This type of skiing is practiced mostly at a competitive level. Some of the major competitive disciplines based on Nordic skiing are, Cross-Country, Ski Jumping, and Nordic Combined.

Alpine Skiing : In this type of skiing, fixed-heel bindings attach both the toe and the heel to the skis. It is a downhill skiing activity that involves skiing down a slope. Alpine skiing is practiced both at a recreational and competitive level. Some of the major competitive disciplines based on Alpine Skiing are, Combined, Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super-G, and Para-alpine.

Both types of skiing are a major part of the Winter Olympic Games, where several codes of races are conducted for each discipline. There are also separate World Cups held for some of the major skiing disciplines.

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List of Snow Skiing Sports

• Alpine Skiing — including Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super Giant Slalom (Super-G) and Downhill
  • Slalom Skiing — an alpine skiing discipline that involves skiing downhill through gates, with the gates closer together therefore tighter turns than in Giant Slalom or Super-G.
  • Giant Slalom — downhill skiers have to navigate through a fixed set of gates, spaced farther apart than in Slalom though not as much as in Super-G, therefore medium-sized turns.
  • Super Giant Slalom (better known as Super-G) — an alpine downhill skiing event like giant slalom but the gates to ski through are further apart.
  • Downhill Skiing — participants slide down a snow-covered hill using skis with fixed bindings.
• Speed Skiing — the objective is to ski downhill on a straight path as fast as possible.
• Cross-Country Skiing — races over snow-covered terrain using skis.
• Ski Flying — winter sport similar to ski jumping in which the skier will come down and take off from a ramp and fly the farthest possible distance.
• Ski Jumping — a form of skiing in which an athlete will take off a ramp and jump as high and far as possible.
• Skiboarding — like snow skiing, but with shorter and wider skis.
• Ski Cross — multiple downhill skiers race head-to-head on a course including big jumps, rollers and high-banked turns.
• Nordic Combined — athletes compete in a combined event of Cross-Country Skiing and Ski Jumping.
• Freestyle Skiing — different forms of freestyle skiing including Aerial skiing, Mogul Skiing, Ski Ballet, Ski cross, Half-pipe skiing, Slopestyle skiing.
  • Aerials — a freestyle skiing discipline in which athletes ski along a take-off ramp, then perform various in-air tricks.
  • Mogul Skiing — snow skiers compete on a specially designed downhill course, in which the primary focus is on the technique used for turns, aerial maneuvers, and speed.
  • Acroski — athletes on snow skis perform various choreographed routines (once called Ski Ballet)
  • Ski Cross — multiple downhill skiers race head-to-head on a course including big jumps, rollers and high-banked turns.
  • Half-Pipe Skiing — athletes perform tricks while riding on a half-pipe wearing snow skis.
  • Slopestyle Skiing — athletes on skis perform on a course with different types of obstacles.
• Telemark Skiing — The bindings for telemark skiing holds the boot by the toes, unlike Alpine Skiing which is fixed-heel. Also known as free hill skiing and telemarking.
• Ski Mountaineering — the objective is to climb up a mountain wearing skis, occasionally carrying if required, and then descend on the skis.
• Ski Orienteering — athletes navigate from the start to the finish through checkpoints while riding on skis.
• Ski Archery — involves skiing and shooting arrows at targets.
• Slopestyle — involves skiing or snowboarding down a course of obstacles.

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Similar Sports

• Snowshoeing — racing in the snow wearing snow shoes
• Skibobbing — a winter sport that uses a bicycle-type frame connected to skis called skibobs.
• Skijøring — being pulled either by a dog, a horse or a motor-operated vehicle while on skis
• Snowboarding — involves descending on a slope covered in snow using a single board attached to both feet.
• Roller Skiing — races are conducted on tarmac road courses with athletes wearing snow skis with wheels attached.
• Biathlon — a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting
• Grass Skiing — involves skiing on grass-covered slopes on skis with wheels

Related Pages

• About Skiing (general)
• Complete list of sports
• The Encyclopedia of Sports