Alpine skiing evolved from cross-country skiing when ski lift infrastructure was developed at mountain resorts to tow skiers back to the top of slopes, thus making it possible to repeatedly enjoy skiing down steep, long slopes that would be otherwise too tiring to climb up. The sport is now popular wherever the combination of snow, mountain slopes, and a sufficient tourist infrastructure can be built up, including much of Europe, North America, and Japan. Resorts are found all over the world.
The main technical challenges faced by skiers are simply how to control the direction and speed of their descent. Typically, novice skiers use a technique called the “snow plough” to turn and stop by pointing one or both skis inward, but more advanced skiers use more difficult but more elegant and speedier methods. As skiers gain confidence, they tackle steeper, longer and more uneven slopes at higher speeds.
In this lesson, you will study the skills and techniques that are essential to becoming a good skier.
