Living Well

Such as Nordic skiing, Ski Jumping, Cross Country Skiing, Telemark skiing, Alpine skiing, etc.? I’ve gained a large interest in skiing after watching a video of someone ski down a beautiful mountain on Colorado, and now I’m interested in not only going skiing, but learning more about it?

In skiing you have two distinct categories, Alpine and Nordic. Everything else is a sub-category.

Nordic Skiing encompasses "Cross-Country" and all of it’s various forms, ski-jumping, and telemark skiing. While all are very different they share one common factor…the ski is attached to the boot at the toe only and the heel is free. If you want to know more about these individual sports I suggest starting with Wikipedia and looking up the massive amount of info available there. Aside from ski-jumping, Nordic skiing is a type of skiing used for travel. True, racing and recreation have turned it into a sport, but essentially this type of skiing has its roots in viable forms of mountain and winter travel conditions. With nordic bindings you can easily move up and down mountains, hills, and fields.

Any type of skiing that involves binding that locks both the toe and the heel is Alpine. The sub-categories of Alpine Skiing are enormous. The traditional "downhill" skiing events such as Slalom Giant Slalom Super-G, and Downhill attract skiers who like speed and skilled turns. Freestyle skiing encompasses everything from Slopestyle tricks, to Aerials to Mogul Skiing, and the venerable Ski Ballet! Additionally, Alpine Touring and Monoskiing are Alpine sub-categories as well. For the most part, Alpine disciplines are recreational based. Alpine Touring being the exception since it actually evolved from Telemark skiing.

This is a great question, but way too lengthy to answer here. For more info, start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiing

What is more popular among french teens, downhill skiing or cross country
?
What do young people do in the afternoon of L’Aid el-Fitr?

I have a number of good friends, and acquaintances, in the southeast of France (in and around Grenoble), and they all seem to be strongly preferable to downhill skiing. When I was in high school, a friend of mine went to visit a mutual friend of ours in France during the winter, and he went downhill skiing. From what I observed during the time I’ve spent in the region, downhill skiing is very popular, as there are many mountains, and Switzerland is very close by.

However, I’m sure cross country is more popular in flatter areas, like Limousin, than it is in the Rhone Alps.

As to what young people do on Eid Al-Fitr, I don’t know, as I do not know any French Muslims.

I’ll be skiing about 8 hours each day for 5 days next week (in addition to my regular running plan). Will this help at all?

Skiing may be very tiring for your legs, but I don’t think it will substitute for running.
Cross country skiing would probably work, but down hill is not using your legs in the same way as running does.
It would be better if you did a few miles on the treadmill before hitting the slopes in the mornings.

At a real Ski Slope?
Say if i was staying at the bottom of the mountain near the slopes?
Can you get up there and go skiing for a day?

Definitely, if travelling is not part of the problem. You will be able to hire ski equipment, and possibly specialised outer clothing.

If you have never skied before you may find one day to be an unsatisfying experience. It usually takes a 2 or 3 days to begin to get skilled enough to start to enjoy (and a lifetime of improvement after that). I also suggest you take a lesson, otherwise you will never get to enjoy yourself.

Most resorts are well set up for beginners.

im taking up cross country skiing so how are most of the trails like? r there some hills? what gear should i get? just tell me ,ostly about the trails?

Well, it depends on where you go. Some XC Trails are flat and some are very steep. Usually, most XC Trails are flat with short rolling hills. And while XC course almost never attain the steepness of downhill resorts, I’ve skied some pretty steep trails on my XC skis. All the trail networks I’ve ever been to are very well marked and it is easy to avoid trails above your ability level.

If you are just picking it up I suggest holding off buying equipment until you do it a couple of times as there are two distinct types of XC skiing.

First is Classic skiing or Striding. The classic style is often used on prepared trails that have pairs of parallel grooves cut into the snow. This style is made up of an exaggerated running action with parallel skis and a glide on each stride. The poles are planted alternately on the opposite side to the kick. For experienced skiers this technique is used uphill. This style of skiing is a great way to start XC skiing as it is fairly easy and allows you to go further and longer much more easily.

The next is Skate skiing. Skate skiing is much more arobic and is faster than striding. Skate skiing involves the skier pushing one ski outward with the ski angled, so that the inner edge of the ski is driven against the snow, much like an ice skater. As in classic skiing, transferring weight completely from one ski to the next is essential to learning to skate. Those who have learned to ice skate or rollerblade may find ski skating technique easier to learn than classic skiing.

As you can imagine both of these styles require specific equipment so you might want to establish which style you prefer before you buy. I personnaly prefer Skating as it is more arobic, faster and offers more of a challenge but many people love Striding. It’s really up to you, I just suggest you not commit to a specific style before you try them both.

Good luck and have fun.

I’m new to skiing but progressing fast. Someone at Winter Park said that there’s a difference between a carve turn and a parallel turn. What are these turns and what’s the difference?

A parallel turn is when both skis follow the same parallel path throughout the turn. A carved parallel turn is when the edges of your skis are engaged in the snow with no skidding through the arc of the turn. A pure carved turn will leave two thin "railroad tracks" in the snow after the turn. It requires good balance and edge control all of the way in the turn.

I read a book a long time ago and I can’t remember the title. I remember one part where a few friends go skiing and one of them skies into a wire which decapitates him. The friends later discover metal wire in one of the girls’ suitcases. Does anyone know the title of this book?

ew, i just started skiing, now i might rethink the whole thing

I fall backward while the skis remain level with the water. I have trouble pulling myself forward and I have to let go. Is there a special technique can I use to straighten my body up so I can continue skiing?

im not real sure what you mean by pulling yourself forward. You say skis so you are on a pair. when you get up you find yourself falling backward? you’re hunched over? put the ski handle in by your hips, not high at chest or shoulder height.once the handle is in place stick your chest up a bit by squeezing your shoulder blades together. Your grip should be one palm up, one palm down. the old saying arms straight, knees bent will apply to a new skiier. if you pull the rope toward your body by bending your elbows and pulling you will fall backward. If your knees are locked out you wont have anything to absorb shock and, depending on how you’ve weighted the ski, you will fall. try not to look down at the skis. look toward your direction of travel, or the boat, or the shore….just not down. your body will follow your head and your hips will be too far away from the handle. ask a more specific question and i will try to help further.

Looking to go skiing this winter and I have a few adult first timers. I’m looking for a place that has nice, long, smooth beginner slopes and top of the line ski schools.

I recommend Aspen, CO. There are 4 mountains included. Buttermilk Mountain is great for beginners, while there is Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain for the better skiers. Snowmass is a huge mountain with great ski schools. Great night life also!

I’ve seen on warren miller movies where the only way to get into and out of cities is by skiing (some city in the east), I was wondering if anyone knows of cities that skiing is a necessity of life there?

theres a couple towns out in Colorado in the moutains when it snows they have to ski to work a lot of Canadians ski to work too some use snowmobiles you need one of you get snowed in