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Why Skiing

Skiing, the sport that makes winter fun

Skiing has a history of almost five millennia. Although modern skiing has evolved from beginnings in Scandinavia, it may have been practiced more than 100 centuries ago in what is now China, according to an interpretation of ancient paintings.

Skiing was primarily used for transport until the mid-19th century but, since then, it has also become a recreation and sport. Military ski races were held in Norway during the 18th century, and ski warfare was studied in the late 18th century. As equipment evolved and ski lifts were developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two main genres of skiing emerged—Alpine (downhill) skiing and Nordic skiing. The main difference between the two is the type of ski binding (the way in which the ski boots are attached to the skis).

SKI RESORTS

World Famous Ski Resorts

skier

Les Trois Vallees

France

Address:

76160 Bois-l'Eveque

Forbes:

Nestled in the Northern French Alps, Les Trois Vallées is the world’s largest linked ski area, with a network of 600 km of slopes spanning eight resorts – all of which can be accessed for £59 (€68) a day.

chairlift

Les Portes du Soleil

France/Switzerland

Address:

1401 Rte de Vonnes, 74390 Chatel

Forbes:

Another large ski area situated on the French-Swiss border is Les Portes du Soleil. It stretches from Lake Geneva in Switzerland through to Mont Blanc in France, allowing visitors to ski from one resort to another without ever having to ski the same run twice.

skier

Les Quatres Vallees

Switzerland

Address:

Tortin, 1997 Nendaz

Forbes:

Les Quatre Vallées boasts excellent snow conditions and over 400 km of slopes catering to all abilities. Home to some of the most challenging skiing in the Alps, Verbier is the largest resort in the area. It is renowned for its off-piste options and freestyle scene which attracts adrenaline junkies from all over the world.

Gallery

Photos from Skiing