(McNab pg 15) As a widespread recreational activity, skiing is a recent phenomenon. (Johnson) Skiing has been popular all around the world for as long as anyone can remember. Though downhill skiing’s boom days of the 60’s and 70’s are gone, it still has a large constituency. (Lepisto) The sport was an ancient method of travel 2,500 years before the Christian era, and appears to have originated in the frozen climates at extreme north of Europe. (McNab pg 14) It has definitely evolved throughout time, but it has always been about getting from one place to another while moving downward. Since then, however, skiing has also become a very competitive sport as many athletes train year round to participate in numerous freestyle and racing events. During the 20th century, skiing developed into a varied range of sporting events. (McNab pg 15) International ski competitions began in 1931 after the formation of the International Ski Federation seven years earlier. (McNab pg 15) Now skiing competitions are held all over the world for individuals as well as teams. Many individuals today compete in skiing in the Winter Olympics and the Winter X games. Skiers from around the world come to these events to show off their skills in various aspects of the sport. Racing events are held to see to which skier can get from the top to the bottom of the hill the fastest. The skiers can race one on one, in groups, or one skier can go at a time, and officials of the race will keep track of the best time. Rarely will you see any turns from a skier during downhill skiing races because in order for the skier to get the most speed, he has to keep his skis straight for as long as possible. The only time a skier aiming for speed might make a turn is to avoid colliding with another opposing skier. Besides straight downhill racing, mogul skiing is another racing event, which is when skiers compete
(McNab pg 15) As a widespread recreational activity, skiing is a recent phenomenon. (Johnson) Skiing has been popular all around the world for as long as anyone can remember. Though downhill skiing’s boom days of the 60’s and 70’s are gone, it still has a large constituency. (Lepisto) The sport was an ancient method of travel 2,500 years before the Christian era, and appears to have originated in the frozen climates at extreme north of Europe. (McNab pg 14) It has definitely evolved throughout time, but it has always been about getting from one place to another while moving downward. Since then, however, skiing has also become a very competitive sport as many athletes train year round to participate in numerous freestyle and racing events. During the 20th century, skiing developed into a varied range of sporting events. (McNab pg 15) International ski competitions began in 1931 after the formation of the International Ski Federation seven years earlier. (McNab pg 15) Now skiing competitions are held all over the world for individuals as well as teams. Many individuals today compete in skiing in the Winter Olympics and the Winter X games. Skiers from around the world come to these events to show off their skills in various aspects of the sport. Racing events are held to see to which skier can get from the top to the bottom of the hill the fastest. The skiers can race one on one, in groups, or one skier can go at a time, and officials of the race will keep track of the best time. Rarely will you see any turns from a skier during downhill skiing races because in order for the skier to get the most speed, he has to keep his skis straight for as long as possible. The only time a skier aiming for speed might make a turn is to avoid colliding with another opposing skier. Besides straight downhill racing, mogul skiing is another racing event, which is when skiers compete