The Original Purpose Of Skiing, Similar With The Activity From Which It Evolved Called Snowshoeing, Was To Allow Easy Movement To And From Different Places Where There Is Deep Snow. However, Skiing In The 20th Century Became Very Popular As A Sport And Recreational Activity. Skis Used To Be Made Of Wood That Are Highly Polished But Now They Are Made Of Other Materials Such As Metal, Plastic, Polyurethane Foam, Fiberglass, And Other Materials. There Are Different Styles And Sizes Of Skis. Even The Bindings That Fasten The Boot To The Ski Vary. The Specific Ski Equipment You Will Use Will Depend On The Type Of Skiing You Intend To Engage In. Poles Are Also Typical Ski Equipment. Skiers Use Them By Pair. They Have Wrist Straps On Top And Pointy Tips At The Bottom With A Ring A Few Inches From The Tip So It Will Not Sink Into The Snow. Poles Help Skiers Improve Their Speed And Balance. Skiing As A Sport Has Several Categories Or Events Divided Into Two Alpine Skiing Events And Nordic Skiing Events. In Traditional Competitive Alpine Skiing, There Is Downhill Skiing, Which Is A Race Involving Steep And Speedy Descent Of A Side Of A Hill Or Mountain And There Is Slalom, Also A Race Event, Where Skiers Move Around A Winding Obstacle Coursed Marked Off By Poles And Flags.In Traditional Competitive Nordic Skiing, There Is The Ski Jump, Wherein Skiers Jump From A Steep, Specially Prepared Take-off Ramp. Skiers Get Points For The Length Or Distance They Are Able To Complete As Well Their Style. Another Event In The Nordic Category Is Cross-country Skiing, Wherein Skiers Race And Maneuver Over A Long Course With Obstacles And Challenging Terrain. Fitness And Stamina Are Very Important To Win This Event.Today, Alpine Skiing Competitions Include Combinations Of Downhill Skiing And Slalom Events. Other Variations On The Slalom Race Are Giant Slalom And Super Giant Slalom Or Super G, Wherein Skiers Must Race Over Longer Courses Designed With Wide Spaces And Less Twists For Faster Speeds. There Are Also Freestyle Skiing Events Such As Mogul Skiing, Wherein Skiers While Going Downhill Try To Pass Large Bumps On The Slope Known As Moguls. Aerials, Another Freestyle Skiing Event, Involve Acrobatic Aerial Maneuvers Such As Twists And Flips And The Like. In The Olympic Games, The Nordic Combined Events, A Men-only Event, Consist Of Ski Jumping And Cross-country Racing.
