what is skiing

Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow. It can be used for basic transport, recreation, or as a competitive winter sport. Skiing has a history of almost five millennia and has evolved from beginnings in Scandinavia. There are two main genres of skiing: Alpine (downhill) skiing and Nordic skiing. Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. It is also commonly known as downhill skiing. Nordic skiing consists of techniques and events that evolved in the hilly terrain of Norway and the other Scandinavian countries. Competitive skiing is divided into Alpine, Nordic, and freestyle events. Skiing can be done at a ski resort with ski lifts that transport skiers up the mountain, or in less controlled environments such as backcountry skiing. There are also different types of skiing, such as classic skiing, freestyle skiing, and backcountry skiing.