Alpine Downhill
Skiing
Downhill skiing is truly an adrenaline rushing winter sport suitable for the entire family and enjoyed by millions of skiers around the globe.
The words “alpine” and “nordic” also show how the two forms of skiing developed. “Nordic” refers to Scandinavia, where skiing began and where the land is relatively flat. “Alpine” refers to the Alps, the enormous central european mountain range. Nordic skiers pushed themselves across flat land, while alpine skiers raced down steep mountains.
Alpine skiing could not have begun without a very important invention — the first toe-and-heel binding, developed by Sondre Norheim of Telemark, Norway, about 1850. Prior to this, skis had been held to the foot with toe straps and an occasional, flimsy heel strap. But Norheim’s toe-and-heel strap was so sturdy that skiers could head down steeper hills without worrying their skis would come off.
The first downhill ski race was the Roberts of Kandahar Cup, staged in Switzerland in 1911. This race continues today on the World Cup circuit as “The Kandahar.”
Introduced to skiing by his father, the British born Sir Arnold Lunn became a renowned skier and invented the slalom skiing race in 1922.
Ski equipment has advanced enormously from the early days when skis were made of wood, ski boots were leather and held to the skis with cables. Skis with metal edges made an enormous breakthrough in skiing with it’s ability to grip the harder snow, giving the skier more stability and greater response to varying types of snow conditions.
Skis that are used today in racing, training and touring are made up of a mix of wood / plastics for the core, plastics and carbon fiber for the top sheet, and “p’tex” for the base layer. The development of the carving ski many say has revolutionised downhill skiing with it’s wider tip and tail and narrow middle allowing the skier to make smaller radius turns with less effort than a traditional straight ski.
Downhill skiing can be learned at any stage in life, although moderately physical it can suit all fitness levels and ages. The most important step in learning how to ski is choosing a ski school or instructor that will taylor a program compatible with your skills and abilities focussing on technique and safety.
Downhill skiing is the number one winter sport in mountain areas. The pinnacle of the sport being the World Cup and Olympic downhill skiing events.
Downhill ski racers compete against each other in timed descents of a marked course typically lasting up to 2 minutes for the men and a little less for the women.
Downhill ski racers reach speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour that places enormous physical pressure on their bodies.
The downhill ski racer will try and stay in a low position as much as possible.
This is often referred to as a tuck position and is used to increase speed, as it is an effective aerodynamic shape.
Downhill skiing is a fun filled, adrenaline rushing hobby, you can start at any age.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN TO SKI OR IMPROVE GREATLY ?
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We wish you a productive and fun ski time.
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