Skiing - Downhill or Nordic

bet on it all with Betfair

Origins

The late 19th century saw the start of competitive skiing however archealogical evidence points to stone age man using ski's to get about.

The Scandinavians and Russians were using ski troops in the 15th century.

It took a Norwegian called Sondre Nordheim in the 1840's to device a device for holding the heel steady on the ski, this in turn revolutionized the sport enabling skiers to perform difficult turns and manoeuvres.

Then the British turned it into a alpine sport and skiing as they say has never looked back.

Rules and other information

Skiing is divided into two categories Nordic and Alpine.

Alpine is probably the glamour side of skiing, competitors hurtle downhill on specially prepared courses against the clock, Alpine is split into 5 events.

Downhill in which each skier must make a single run down a course with the fastest skier winning.

Slalom this time each skier makes two runs in a differently set up course while negotiating a set of gates. The slalom is a shorter course featuring quicker turns the times of both runs are combined to give the winner.

Giant Slalom similiar to slalom but on a longer course with wider and smoother turns, once again each skier takes two runs and the times are combined to work out the winner. Recent innovations have seen the introduction of the Super G a combining of Downhill and Giant Slalom, this course is run only once finally the combined event which features two slalom runs and one downhill the times are combined and the fastest total time wins.

Nordic Skiing includes cross country skiing, the skis are much lighter and the distances can be from 10km to 50km, also included in Nordic skiing is ski jumping probably the most spectacular event where skiers launch themselves by means of an artificial slope and fly through the air for quite long distances usually 100m,

Nordic Combination includes cross country and ski jumping, a new event introduced in 1979 is the freestyle which includes aerials, and moguls. there is also dual moguls where skiers race head to head over an identical course.

Main events Alpine Skiing World Championships last held in Bormio Italy. The World Cup this is a season long competition first won by Jean Claude Killy. Ski Jumping World Championships,