Skiing

Skiing comprises several sports which involve travelling over snow with the aid of skis which are bound to the foot using a special boot. The main classifications are Alpine skiing and Nordic skiing which originated in the Alps and Scandinavia respectively. Recent variations include snowboarding.

Nordic skiing was introduced to the Olympic Games at the inaugural Winter Olympics, held at Chamonix in 1924. The events included cross-country skiing, ski jumping and the Nordic combined.

Alpine aka downhill skiing consists essentially of downhill racing and slalom skiing. It entered international competition later than the Nordic style and was first contested at the Olympics in 1936 when a combined event (both downhill and slalom) was held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.