Nowadays, skiing is one of the most technically challenging areas of sport. There are many types of skiing and subspecies, including the disciplines included in the Olympic program.
Skiing is a trendy sport today. This is confirmed by the fact that many people are fond of alpine skiing in France, England, the USA, and other countries of the world. Some have devoted their entire lives to this sport. Since childhood, practicing and having achieved tremendous success, such people perform at championships, World Cups, the Olympic Games and receive gold, silver, bronze medals as a reward for their achievements.
For some, skiing is just a fun pastime. So as not to wallow at home in front of the TV, but to spend active holidays in the fresh winter air and get many positive emotions, taking the whole family — many people go to skiing resorts.
But for starters, if you are still only thinking of having active rest, it would be better if you get acquainted with the basic skiing and downhill skiing styles. Only after that decide on a place to rest and all the necessary equipment.
When choosing a skiing style, you need to understand what you want from alpine skiing and why you want to do it. Do you want to do this kind of sport professionally or as an amateur, or perhaps you want to learn how to surprise others and yourself, first of all, with your incredible ski tricks? It is on this that the selection of specific ski equipment depends on your level of physical stamina.
Alpine/Downhill Recreational Skiing
The easiest and most common skiing style among beginner skiers is alpine one. This style is perfect for a family vacation in the mountains. The main goal in this type for a skier is to overcome distances. On some sections of the route, unexpected obstacles may be encountered, such as steep climbs, loose snow, sometimes even puddles, and rocky soil.
In short, at first glance, it will seem that there is nothing complicated in this style of skiing, but give it a try. You will feel that it is not so easy to carry the proud name of a skier. A family vacation in a tourist style will be remembered for a long time by you and your family!
Halfpipe and Terrain Park
Freestyle is one of the main styles. This style of skiing involves the skier performing beautiful skiing turns types and acrobatic stunts. For freestyle, the tracks are equipped with unique jumps and various devices for performing these same tricks. However, multiple obstacles of natural origin can also be used for freestyle. Sportsmens who prefer this style have excellent physical fitness and quick reactions. When practising this style, you can get enough extreme adrenaline.
The following sub-styles are distinguished:
- Big Air is a competition of skiers performing tricks on a single significant springboard.
- Half Pipe — riding in a specially prepared snow groove. Externally, the track is very similar to a pipe cut in half.
- Jibbing — overcoming various kinds of obstacles: parapets and benches, stairs, and railings. Especially popular with young people.
Pipe and park skiers are known for their flips and the way they land backward. The halfpipe has become famous since the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.
To practice these skiing types, you need to choose short, stable, double-toed skis. This will help you stay stable at all distances.
The general look of freestyle is not limited to these two styles. Many sports fans integrate their skills in the park and pipe, along with flips and other cool features, into different types of skiing.
Ski Racing
Usually ski racing takes place on flat or rugged terrain. This kind of skiing belongs to the Nordic disciplines, including the combined race and biathlon. It is an independent winter sport designed for the endurance of the competition participants.
Originally, skiing began with racing. Therefore, they are considered classics of skiing and train endurance well. They have been present in the Olympic program from the beginning of the winter games organization. Most common skier’s modes of movement: classical, ridge, free.
Among different types of skiing are:
- Similar to running, a ski sprint is a short-distance race. Running sprint distances are too short for a winter skier.
- Pursuit race. They are subdivided into regular pursuit (with a break between stages) and skiathlon (without a break). In the skiathlon, the start is massive, and there is no break between the sets. The specificity of the pursuit without interruption is that athletes need to overcome the first part of the path in a classical way, then change skis and ride in a freestyle.
- Relay races. Four teams participate in ski relay races, each of which has four people.
Powder and Backcountry
Last but not least — freeride! In freeride skiing, there is no place for prepared slopes. Here, unlike snowboarding, only natural slopes are at your disposal. Deep fluffy snowy leaves, places where no human has stepped, are undoubtedly the main reasons why freeride is chosen. It isn’t easy to imagine more thrills than descending from the mountain.
Ski freeride is a rather broad concept. There are not many classifications here:
- Freeriders can ride on any surface, and it is covered with snow, soft slopes, and hard compressed by the wind and even ice.
- Skating exclusively on deep snow is called the Powder style.
It is necessary to understand that skiing in the mountains far from civilization, in addition to adrenaline and pleasure, is also a serious risk, not only to health but also to life. The main dangers of a freerider are avalanches and the inability to provide quick first aid in case of injury.
Choosing a skiing style, first, you need to understand what you want from this sport. Will your acquaintance with skiing be limited to amateur outings, or are you planning to seriously connect your life with this hobby and go to the professional level — each style will require different equipment and fitness levels from you.
Everyone can learn skiing due to the many types of this sport — both for beginners and experienced masters of their craft. There are many types of skiing so that everyone can choose the style to their liking.
