Types of Skiing

When you think of skiing, usually the first thing that comes to mind is crazy people out launching off of mountain cliffs at mach speed. But did you know that there are many more types of skiing. Let’s take a look at all the different ways you can strap two skies to your feet and travel about on the snow.

Types of Skies

Most people know that there are two types of skies, but many people don’t know what they are called. 

• Alpine: These skies bind the skiers toes and heel to the ski and are meant to go at high speeds with maximum control.
• Nordic: These skies only attach the skiers toes to the ski and give the skier the ability to move easier along flat and uphill surfaces.

Freestyling

The most popular type of skiing is Freestyle. This includes high speed downhill, aerials, moguls, skicross, half-pipe and slope style. Freeskiing is an Olympic discipline which shares characteristics with street skateboarding, BMX, and inline skating.

The best freestyle skiers in the World usually go Heliskiing. They take a helicopter to the riskiest mountain peaks with fresh powder and unexplored trails. This sport is as extreme as it gets.

Old School Nordic

Skiing was the way people travelled before it became a sport for fun. So Nordic skies were meant to cross all types of terrain and not just flying down hills. So the skies only are attached to your toes so you can hike up hills easier.

Competition

If you’re an awesome downhill skier, you can take your moves to the Olympics and compete in a variety of different events:

• Alpine Skiing (Downhill, Super G, Giant slalom, Slalom, Super Combined) 
• Freestyle Skiing (Aerials, Moguls, Ski Cross, Ski halfpipe and Ski slopestyle)
• Biathlon (combining cross-country skiing and target shooting: individual, sprint, pursuit, mass start & relay events) 
• Cross-Country Skiing (individual and team sprint, freestyle, pursuit, classical and relays) 
• Ski Jumping ​

Have Your Say

What kind of skiing have you tried? Let us know in the comments below!