Skiing and Snowboarding
Skiing and snowboarding (or riding) are some of the most popular winter recreational sports in North America. According to 2006 data reported by the National Sporting Goods Association, 6.4 million people participated in Alpine or downhill skiing. Another 5.2 million people participated in snowboarding. Cross country or Nordic skiing had 2.6 million participants. For the 2006/2007 ski season, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) reported that there were over 55 million visits to ski areas.
As of 2006/2007, there were 485 ski resorts in 36 states in the United States (NSAA). The State of New York had the most ski resorts with 50.
Snow skiing is an umbrella term for many different forms of the sport of skiing. The most popular recreational forms of skiing are Alpine skiing, which is also commonly referred to as downhill skiing, and Nordic skiing, also commonly referred to as cross country skiing.
Alpine Skiing / Downhill Skiing
Alpine or downhill skiing evolved in the Alps in Europe. Modern skiing, as it is know today, dates from the mid 1800s. In 1850, a Norwegian named Sondre Norheim invented the first stiff Bindings. The first ski club in the United States, the Norske Ski Club in Berlin, New Hampshire dates from 1882. The first modern slalom race was held in Mürren, Switzerland in 1921.
In Alpine skiing, rigid boots attach to skis at both the toe and heel, one ski per foot. Alpine skiers also often use ski poles.
Snowboarding
Snowboarding participants use the same slopes as Alpine skiers. The main difference is that instead of having two skis attached to their feet, snowboarders have a single snowboard attached to both feet. Snowboarders do not use poles.
Snowboarding was developed in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. The first snowboard was created by Tom Sims in 1963. Snowboarding became an official sport in 1985 and a Winter Olympic Sport in 1998. Today 97% of all ski areas in North America and Europe allow snowboarding, up from 7% in 1985.
Nordic Skiing / Cross Country Skiing
Nordic, or cross country skiing had its origins in Scandinavian countries in prehistoric times where this form of skiing was used as a means of travel during winter. In Nordic skiing, ski bindings attach at the toes of the skier's ski boots, but not at the heels. Skiers also use poles to help with locomotion.
According to the Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA) there are over 350 cross country ski areas in the United States and Canada. Many ski resorts also feature cross county skiing trails.
Cross country skiing is widely promoted as an excellent aerobic exercise. It is also quite a bit less expensive than Alpine skiing. According to the CCSAA, the average trail pass is $12, and the average for a trail pass and rental equipment is $35.
Ski and Snowboard News
| North American Skiing News |
| American Ski Racers Dominate Air NZ Southern Cup Slalom Queenstown, New Zealand - Americans took advantage of superb ski racing conditions on Thursday, dominating both the men's and women's slalom events at the Air NZ Southern Cup at Coronet Peak. |
| Seven Springs to Again Operate Laurel Mountain Ski Area Ligonier, PA - The lifts will be turning and the slopes buzzing again this winter at Laurel Mountain ski area located on the Westmoreland and Somerset County border in Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands, thanks to an agreement between Seven Springs Resort and Somerset Trust Company. |
| Reach Out and Touch Someone with Swany's New Ski Glove/Cell Phone Combo Johnstown, NY - Five hundred bucks of cold, hard cash could keep you from yanking your nice, warm hand out of your glove to field that phone call on the ski slopes this winter. |
| Freestyler Skiers and Snowboarders Ready For a Rampage at The Remarkables Lake Wanaka, New Zealand - Many of New Zealand's top freestyle skiers and riders, and a line up of visiting internationals, will go head-to-head in the Up & Go Terrain Park at The Remarkables this Sunday. |
| Max Gartner and Garry Allan to Lead Alpine Canada Alpin Through 2010 Calgary, Canada - Calgary businessman Gary Allan is rejoining Alpine Canada Alpin as President to lead the ski racing organization's business operations while Chief Athletics Officer Max Gartner will direct sport programming in the lead up to the 2010 Winter Olympics. |
| New Whistler Mountain Ski Club Program Director - Chapman Comes On Board ...OPEN ARTICLE TO READ MORE |
| Whiteface 3rd Annual 5K Downhill Mountain Bike Race Set For Aug 31 WILMINGTON, New York -- Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, among the most challenging ski and ride mountains in the nation, will host the Third Annual 5 Kilometer Downhill Mountain Bike Race on Sunday, August 31. Race time is 12 p.m. This NORBA-sanctioned event (National Off-Road Bicycle Association), part of the Gravity East series, will carry a $5,000 pro purse, with the top men and women receiving equal pay. There will be several thousand dollars additionally in bike-related merchandise... |
| Country Rocker Chris Isaak Plays Labor Day Weekend at Belleayre HIGHMOUNT, New York -- Chris Isaak will bring his unique blend of rock, country and pop tunes to the Belleayre Music Festival stage on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. Isaak's smooth, haunting vocal style has propelled songs such as "Wicked Game" and "Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing," to the top of the charts. Over the course of nine albums, he has produced a dozen hit singles. In the mid-1980s, as his singing career was taking off, Isaak also began to explore the acting world, appearing in films... |
| Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill Plays Belleayre Festival in Highmount Aug. 23 HIGHMOUNT, New York -- Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill brings his hit-filled show to the Belleayre Music Festival in Highmount on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 8 p.m. Vince Gill is a multiple Grammy award-winning artist who has sold more than 26 million albums. He has earned 18 Country Music Association awards, including two for Entertainer of the Year and five Male Vocalist Awards. He has also won more Grammy Awards than any other male country music artist with 19. He was inducted into the... |
| Matt Webb Wins Okemo's Name-those-trails Contest LUDLOW, Vermont -- Okemo Mountain Resort Assistant Lodging Director Matt Webb is the winner of the resort's Name-Those-Trails Contest. With work nearly complete on Okemo's newest additions this year, resort management decided to turn to its staff for naming the two double-black-diamond trails at Jackson Gore. A contest was organized and the response was overwhelming. Among the hundreds of trail names submitted, White Lightning and Rolling Thunder were the winning entries. Contest winner... |
| Gin Blossoms to Headline 2nd Annual Burke Mountain Music Festival September 13 EAST BURKE, Vermont -- Burke Mountain announces today that the Grammy nominated Gin Blossoms will headline the 2nd Annual Burke Mountain Music Festival. Opening for the band will be Marc Broussard and platinum recording artist Howie Day. The 2nd Annual Burke Mountain Music Festival will be held on Saturday September 13th, 2008, with proceeds benefiting "Kingdom Kids", a not-for-profit association providing opportunities for children in the Northeast Kingdom to be physically active in... |
| BC Ski Team Summer Training - Coach Nancy checks in with another update ...OPEN ARTICLE TO READ MORE |
| Attention BC Alpine Clubs - Are your contacts up to date on our website? ...OPEN ARTICLE TO READ MORE |
| Keven's Seven Year Itch - We owe a debt of gratitude for his contributions ...OPEN ARTICLE TO READ MORE |
| Do you belong on our team? BC Alpine is seeking Club Services Coordinator ...OPEN ARTICLE TO READ MORE |
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