|
Nordic skiing and Alpine skiing |
|
|
|
|
Sunday, 10 August 2008 |
|
Skiing or snow skiing is a cluster of sports which is executed by using the skis as the main equipment. When the sport of skiing is practiced the skis are utilized in combination with boots which are connected with the ski through the use of binding. Though the sport of snow boarding shares the common attributes of skiing but its evolution was from the principle of skateboarding and surfing and hence it is not considered in the same aspect as skiing. Skiing has been categorized into two common categories namely Nordic skiing and Alpine skiing. The Nordic skiing is one of the oldest methods and it incorporates the sport that came out from skiing as performed in Scandinavia. The Nordic skiing has different styles of binding the skis with the boots. In Nordic style of skiing bindings are attached at the toes of the boots, and are not attached at the heels. The alpine skiing is the sport of skiing which was evolved in Alps. The Alpine skiing also has its own different style of binding the boots. In Alpine skiing the bindings are being carefully attached to the heels of the boots as well as the toes of the boots. Like in many regulations, such as the Telemark skiing, there are some crossovers. Nevertheless, the binding styles and the history of the sport tend to flash light upon the reason as to why a style is being noted as Nordic style and the Alpine style. Therefore in accordance of the lack of locking the heel and the roots in Norway and Telemark it is usually considered as a Nordic style.
It is difficult to master the skills and techniques of skiing and hence in accordance to it there are various skiing schools which help people to master the art of skiing by making them learn and practice everything starting from the basics of the sport like stopping and turning smoothly and safely to more progressed racing, carving, mogul or the bump skiing and the latest freestyle techniques. There are two major types of downhill skiing namely the Alpine and the Telemark. Alpine Skiing is the commonly practiced skiing. In fact the term skiing is usually used to address the alpine skiing where the person has to visit a ski resort, buy a lift entry ticket, wear a lot of warm clothing, ski boots, skis and sometimes ski poles as well and thereafter the person can embark on a gondola lift, chair lift or other ways of uphill transport. When the person reaches the peak, he or she gets off the ski lift and travel towards the downhill under the effect of gravity mostly along the marked way or route known as the run, slope or trail. Most ski resorts make use of the mechanical equipments in order to groom the snow surface on some ski routes. Nordic Skiing which is also known as the cross country skiing may be the most known or popular form of skiing as it does not needs a particular area for skiing. Characteristically after wearing appropriate warm clothes, the skier sets out and skis in a common park or on a snowy street. Nordic skiing is the most ancient type of skiing and was founded in Scandinavia as a means of traveling in harsh winters. |
