Downhill Skiing: An Exceptional Skiing Experience

Downhill Skiing (also known as Alpine skiing) is a sport in which the athlete slides ‘down’ the hills covered with snow. The downhill skiers use skis which have fixed heel bindings in contrast to the Nordic skiing in which free heel bindings are used. Many ski resorts organize have facilities for people to do downhill skiing. These facilities include mechanical lifts which carry the skiers to the top of the hill; trees are cut to form trails, controlled avalanches and groomed snow.

Although, many downhill skiers like to pursue skiing in an environment which is less controlled. This practice is also termed as extreme skiing or ski touring. This sport originated in the 1880s and was named after the Alps in Europe. Now, the countries famous for this sport are East Asia, New Zealand, Andes in South America, North America, Australia and Europe.

Risks and Equipment:

Earlier only cross-country skiing was pursued, but the introduction of ski lifts in resorts evolved the downhill skiing which made it possible to repeatedly enjoy skiing down long and steep slopes. The downhill skiing involves the greatest of risks due to very high speeds which can range between 130 to 150 km/h. Due to the amount of risk involved, downhill skiing requires good skill, technical expertise and considerable strength. The resort or race officials also install nets or pads in areas where they consider that damage could happen. Even with all the precautions, downhill skiing can get dangerous and might result in injuries or even death.

The lower speed alpine sports have different equipments from that of downhill skiing. The tips of the skis are rounded and the length is almost thirty percent longer. The racers also wear tight suits which minimize the drag and helmets. Safety measures were increased and mandatory minimum length of skis was imposed. The minimum ski length for men is 2.15 m whereas for women, it is 2.1 m.

Skiing techniques:

The beginners use snowploughing method in which they keep a comfortable speed and stop the skis by pointing the skis inwards. The experienced racers use methods which are speedier and elegant. The parallel turn method involves alternating the weight between parallel skis to change the direction. The carving method is more advanced and in this, the skiers keep their upper body facing down the mountain and the turns are made with the help of feet and knees. As a skier grows in experience and confidence, he/she might be able to tackle slopes which are more uneven, longer and steeper. But, novices shouldn’t tackle harder slopes until they have gathered enough experience.

Competitions and Races:

The competitions in downhill skiing occur in the form of races. The races involve fast turns through gates in the attempt to achieve the fastest time down the race course. The runs could be singular or multiple. The highest ranked skiers can participate in the world cups, Olympics and world championships. Downhill skiing is the fastest discipline practiced in championships where the speeds can reach (or even exceed) to 100 km/h. One discipline that can be considered a type of downhill is speed skiing in which the skiers attempt to achieve the highest speed during a single straight line. Usually, there are no turns or gates in this form.

These competitions are organized by the FIS for world events and USSA for maintaining the athletes and events. The minimum international standard time for downhill races is one minute and time for world cup courses usually range amid 1.5 minute and 2.5 minutes. There haven’t been any ties in downhill races but medals have been decided on hundredths of a second. However, the competition in Downhill skiing is very tough but Lindsey Vonn has clinched third straight downhill victory. With one click of any US sports site, you may able to know more about Lindsey Vonn skiing skills.