Superfast downhill and Giant slalom in Alpine skiing, cross country and death-defying jumps in Nordic skiing: skiing competitions are thrilling events!

But you don’t need to be an athlete to ski: it’s also a leisure activity much appreciated in Europe and North America.

So, when did it start?

In prehistoric times! Humans already slid over the snow to follow their herds. Skiing is still used to get around in Nordic countries.

But in the 19th-century, the Norwegian, Sondre Norheim, made it a true sport.

To hurtle down slopes and turn as quickly as possible, he made shorter skis that were thin in the middle.

Norheim even won the first skiing competition in the world, in 1869.

Shortly after, the explorer Fridtjof Nansen, another Norwegian, covered over 300 miles on skis in Greenland. His exploit made the sport famous!

The first Winter Olympic Games were held in 1924 in the French Alps and skiing was one of the star events.

In the 1930s, skiing for leisure took off: Winter ski resorts were built.

It’s in the United States, Austria and France where they are the busiest.

The World Alpine Ski Championships are held every 2 years in February.

Downhill, slalom, giant slalom, combined, super-G and a national Team Event! So schuss, and may the best team win!